As a little girl, Chef Linda always knew being of Italian heritage meant something special. “We have strong family values and long standing traditions, especially when it came to cooking.”
Chef Linda grew up in the suburbs of South Philadelphia, just 20 minutes south of the city. When the women in her family wanted authentic Italian products, they would go to the Italian Market in Philly. The Italian Market is not just one market, but many different open air markets offering fresh produce, herbs and spices, pastas, cheese, meats and hard to find Italian wares. The sights and smells of the Italian Market are something you never forget. Chef Linda remembers the fires burning in the large metal drums that line the streets during the winter months to keep customers warm as they searched for the perfect products to create authentic Italian meals. The Italian Market is still thriving today and is where most of the city’s top restaurant chefs go early in the morning to select only the freshest products.
