Chefs & Nonnas

Luca Ciano was born and raised in Milan and started cooking with his Nonna and mother when he was just eight-years old. It was their influence and inspiration that led him to a career in the kitchen, resulting in him running a two-star Michelin restaurant in Milan. His Mum Annita will flying in from Milan to cook with Luca at this year's festival. You don't want to miss Nonna Annita's Tiramisu.

Massimo Mele was born in Australia but spent his first 8 years in Naples, playing in a crowded kitchen while his Nonna and aunts cooked up a storm. Mele is a self confessed mummy’s boy, and understands the great importance of Nonna’s influence in producing the finest Italian street food. Mele and his mother Maria will present two of our Festival of Nonna Melbourne events.

Eugenio remembers his childhood as a “conspiracy of care” where conversations came in two varieties. Those that were had around the dinner table or those that were about what was going to go on the dinner table in the next meal. “My mother taught me a love for food and I have been lucky to turn that love into a career passing on the passion”.

Andrew Cibej is a name synonymous with the best of Italian cooking in Australia. He’s the owner of popular establishments Vini, Berta and 121BC and uses recipes passed down from his northern Italian Nonna and his mother Valerie – home-cooked goodness and shared eating. Valerie and Andrew will highlight some of their favourite home cooked recipes at two of our Sydney Festival of Nonna events.