Camille Napolitano-McDowell

Ingredients truly inspire my cooking! The versatility of each one fills me with joy. I grew up immersed in a rich culinary environment cooking alongside my grandma, baking with my mom, bbqing with my dad, and learning butchering techniques from my grandpa. My multicultural background has taught me that many dishes are surprisingly similar, with just a few tweaks transforming their taste and appearance. Now as a caterer, my clients inspire and challenge me, keeping my culinary creativity flowing!

White Spaghetti is a dish I grew up enjoying at my grandparents house usually on Meatless Fridays. It’s an olive oil sauce with melted anchovies, onions, garlic, pine nuts, and Parmesan. I've made this dish my entire life, and it was especially meaningful to prepare it for my grandfather while I cared for him alongside my mom until he passed at 100. This dish has graced many dinner parties, and is equally as delicious when curled up on the couch with a fire and a movie!

I would use the money to fulfill my dream of becoming a cookbook author! As a self-taught chef with a talent for blending flavors and an artistic background, my food stands out both visually and deliciously. This funding would help me invest in quality ingredients, photography, and design, ensuring my recipes taste amazing and look beautiful on the page. I want to create a book that celebrates the joy of cooking and shows that the love of food knows no borders.