My Story

I started in the kitchen when I was 3 years old, peeling cloves of garlic for my dad. This is my earliest memory and the beginning of my love of being in the kitchen. I spent summers cooking through entire cookbooks, planning meals for the weekend, and experimenting with new recipes. From rolling out sheets of pasta to canning fresh jam and tomato sauce in the summer, cooking has never left my life.

Growing up, my dad gave me the nickname, Little Chef, partially inspired by Remy's nickname in Ratatouille, and by my constant need to be in the kitchen and make a mess of it.

I've always been a bit chaotic and messy in the kitchen. My grandma often compared me to her own mother, who she described as a tornado in the kitchen. Out of the mess came a feast for the family. Splatters and spills created plates of salami, cheese, Fritto Misto, pasta, fish, soup, piles of cookies, especially around holidays. Nana was proof that you don't have to be organized or strictly follow rules to be a great cook!

As for me, I can never quite stick to a recipe. I always want to tweak something and make it my own. So, I stick to my guts, go with any spontaneous ideas I might have, and turn it into something delicious! Cooking has been a form of escapism for me throughout my entire life. I'll put on a podcast or playlist and sit in the kitchen for hours, sometimes taking my time to draw out the process. By the end, I've created something that is mine, from the heart and the hands.

Pear and Pecorino

I originally started Pear and Pecorino in 2019 as a way to share recipes and stories, explore ideas about the joy and comfort of cooking, and talk about the cathartic process of making a meal. My family and I used to have slices of pear and Pecorino as an after-dinner treat. It's a delicious combination of flavors, and the easiest dish you could make. Sweet and salty, just two amazing ingredients brought together to make something new.

~Isabella