Growing up in an Italian household with the quintessential immigrant grandparents living downstairs, food, and the experience of dining well, became an integral part of life. Essentially, it was all about food. Homemade pastas, risotto with meat sauce, chicken braised in a pungent parsley and garlic sauce with whiskey, biscotti, anginettes, bagna cauda, home brewed wine. Looking back, it’s amusing to remember that my favorite TV shows were, in no order of preference- American Bandstand, Soupy Sales and Julia Child’s “The French Chef”. As a high school and college student, I ventured into the world of “Front of the House” with various jobs in Connecticut and New York. Because the “Back of the House” was at the heart and pulse of the action, I secretly harbored a desire to join in with the “action”; never having been one to stand back and watch the excitement from afar, so, in 2003 I attended the Connecticut Culinary Institute and graduated with Honors with anticipation of beginning a personal chef business.

Chef Paula holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Long Island University and a Master of Science Degree and 6th year Certificate from Southern Connecticut State University in Communication Disorders. She is a former long distance runner and, with her husband, collectively finished 11 marathons, numerous 20K runs and half marathons. She graduated from the Connecticut Culinary Institute in 2005 and enjoys the distinction of being one of 6 out of 170 students who graduated with both Honors and a Perfect Attendance Citation. Her recipe of Pork Roulade with Mango Sauce won Grand Prize honors at the Recipe Contest at the 2005 APCA Summit in New Orleans. An essay of Chef Paula’s memories of her grandmother with an accompanying recipe of “Jennie’s Chicken” was published in the August/September issue of “Italian Cooking and Living” magazine. Additionally, her recipe of “Jennie’s Chicken” was selected to appear in the soon to be published book of “Heirloom Recipes”. She is a working Speech-Language Pathologist, teaches Adult Education Cooking classes and manages her personal chef business.

Contact The Savory Palate at: thesavorypalate@cox.net