I live in New York City and I'm a chef and author. I became the Pastry Chef of Babbo Restaurant when it opened in 1998, and spent nearly 15 happy and very productive years there. Before that, I was lucky to work in some of New York's best kitchens. Along the way, I wrote a cookbook, traveled a bit, and won a James Beard Award in 2009. You can find out more about my professional profile on my website.

Ovarian cancer has been my nemesis for six years; it is a bitch and a beast, but has brought me friends, experiences and realizations that I treasure.

I love to cook and I love food, but art, music, history, design and travel feed my soul too. Being a mindful, informed citizen is important to me, and I pay attention. We all should.

I make my home at the tip-top of Manhattan, alongside the George Washington Bridge. I take the A-train. I never met a potato I didn't like. My very favorite thing to bake is pie. I love to knead bread. I buy too much Le Creuset. My family and friends are everything.