Gina Cormier

Veal Milanese with fresh tomatoes, arugula salad with lemon balsamic drizzle and angel hair aglio e olio. My dad and oldest brother always tell me about how my Sicilian great-grandmother would make this for them. Now it has become the most requested dish for birthdays and other celebrations! Simple ingredients, great taste! I am also currently in Italy trying to channel my great-grandmother to get inspiration for new dishes that can become signature!

My Great Grandmother, Francesca Mormina. Not just because of her culinary abilities but because of her ability to gather loved ones around the table and make sure everyone felt how loved they were. I was gifted her pasta bowl which was brought over from Sicily and was passed around the table for over 100 years. It sits predominantly in my kitchen as a reminder that food isn’t just about nourishment but it is about taking time in the moment and enjoying who we are with!

I would love to write a cook book series. I have a very colorful past that makes me who I am. From being born in Lexington, Kentucky to living in Kansas City, Missouri to growing up in New England, living most of my adulthood in Florida and also living in Japan for a short time; it all plays a significant part in what makes me the chef I am today. I would love to write different cookbooks that pay homage to these places. I would also love to explore new places and foods through travel.