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Ciao - Hello and thank you for visiting my website and food blog dedicated to food and garden inspirations! I'm Nicole (Nicola), and I love creating delicious meals and aperitifs made with love in a cozy, comforting environment. You'll notice many of the recipe ideas featured here are Calabrian Italian inspired, reflecting my heartfelt connection to Italy. I have always been captivated by the culture, relaxed lifestyle, sense of community, and appreciation for delicious food and aperitifs, especially during those lingering Sunday dinners.

Calabrian cuisine feels very familiar to me (I also have a fondness for their hot Calabrian peppers) because it emphasizes resourcefulness and utilizing what we already have, values instilled in me by my parents, who learned from my grandparents who lived through the Great Depression. This philosophy shapes my cooking creations and serves as a reflection of these cherished values.

My husband Vincent (Vincenzo) has deep Calabrian roots, and we've been fortunate to travel there three times, always returning home inspired to infuse our lifestyle with as much Italian influence as possible.

Nicola's Cucina was born after I turned 50, inspired by a lifetime of experiences that, as Steve Jobs said, 'can only connect the dots by looking backwards.' I have had a rewarding career in healthcare as a registered nurse, health coach, and clinic manager, but this site is not about my prior credentials. Instead, Nicola's Cucina is a heartfelt endeavor to share my passion for Italian cooking and inspire others with recipe ideas that can be made at home. I also love sharing links to great products, resources, and local small business owners. All photographs are taken by me unless otherwise credited.

Since I could walk and 'helped' my mom bake my 3rd birthday cake, I have been drawn to the culinary world (self-taught) and enjoy helping others. Cooking and baking became my way of showing love, a sentiment I vividly remember from when I was about seven or eight years old. My great aunt and uncle, who were farmers, visited us, and I felt a strong urge to make a large breakfast for everyone. Without saying a word, I woke up early, found a French cookbook for inspiration, and prepared an omelette, French toast, and even attempted a souffle. Although the souffle fell flat, the breakfast filled our home with comforting smells, and my Great Uncle Ray recounted this story at his 90th birthday, highlighting the joy I found in cooking for others.

I have always been drawn to twinkle lights, which feel comforting and at home to me. While traveling, I seek out the ambient places with inviting soft lights, often wandering Italian cities, towns, and villages to find the perfect spot for dinner (cena). Our home sparkles with these lights (LED to save energy) both inside and outside, changing colors to match the holidays or seasons.

During my nearly 10 years working in gyn-oncology, I learned valuable life lessons from my dear patients about the importance of cherishing time with loved ones. We don’t wait for 'special occasions' to set a beautiful dinner table or use our good aperitif glasses; we celebrate every day as a gift. To me, nothing beats sharing a nice, lingering dinner filled with good conversation and beverages with family and friends. With more people cooking at home than ever, I felt it was time to create and share Nicola's Cucina - a culmination of 50 years of experiences! What better time than now to get to know one's cucina (kitchen)?

For now, my husband Vincent and I have created an Italian haven in our home, and a special Mediterranean Italian garden we built together after a storm had demolished our backyard. Viewing our loss as an opportunity, we transformed our space into a cherished Italian garden sanctuary, where we even exchanged vows shortly thereafter in a small backyard ceremony surrounded by loved ones. Our garden flourishes with lovely flowers, growing trees, and friendly birds and bees, and even an adorable pair of bunnies has found their way to us! Our investment in this Italian garden, which became our wedding venue, was significantly less than renting most traditional venues, allowing us to enjoy it daily. One day, we hope to return to Italy, perhaps even to live there. If that happens, Nicola's Cucina will follow us on our new journey, as I continue to share experiences, inspirations, and ideas for living your Vita Bella (beautiful life)! 

Grazie Mille - Thank you for stopping by to visit Nicola's Cucina. Arrivederci - Until we meet again! 

~Nicola/Nicole