Babe Santucci

If I had to choose one dish it would be Lasagne Verde alla Bolognese. It’s really 3 recipes in one: spinach egg-pasta, ragu, and bechamel but in combination… total fork drop! It’s a true test of skills. I also love the art of Roman style pan pizza making. Nothing makes me happier in the kitchen than preparing a huge batch of pizza dough and developing wonderful & unexpected topping combinations. The crust is such a perfect canvas.

First, for sure, is my mother. I am number nine of ten kids & grew up watching my mother make breakfast, lunch & dinner for 12 people everyday. Secondly, my mother in law. Her traditional Cypriot dishes were made with love & marked the seasons. In the pizza world, Gabriele Bonci with his Roman style pan pizza. In the pasta world, Alessandra Spisni. I studied pasta making at her school in Bologna. Learning from my mother, mother in law and these masters is the best possible schooling.

I would use the money to further improve my cooking skills. One of my culinary dreams is to study in Italy with Gabriele Bonci. That would be incredible. Another culinary goal is to compete, alongside my sister, in the world pizza championship in Parma, Italy. I am also thinking about updating my kitchen and who knows, maybe even a future cookbook.