About Us

Maybe you remember the endless Sunday pranzi/midday meals of Italian grandparents…remember rolling out the dough for the melt-in-your mouth ravioli, or collecting the sprigs of basil and marjoram from Nonna’s windowsill garden to add to a brew of tomatoes that seemed more magical elixir than tomato sauce… or perhaps it’s a memory of your last Tuscan holiday, that out-of-the-way trattoria, the inexplicable something in the soup known as ribolitta, or the hearty welcome of a long-simmering ossa buca, a fragrance that not only stirred up your appetite, but also your longing for a way of life that you knew stood behind each carefully prepared recipe-- the love and care of a tradition in which expedience meant very little, while pleasure and well-being meant everything. Maybe you’ve never experienced an authentic Italian meal, but have listened enviously as in-laws or honeymooning friends assured you that the spaghetti you eat at local restaurants holds nothing to a true stranghozzi al tartuffo…or even a sliced fresh tomato in an insalata caprese, paired with nothing but mozzarella di buffalo, garnished with just a dribble of fresh pressed olive oil and a basil leaf-and how it awakened their senses in a way one rarely attributes to mere food. But then food in Italy is not merely food---it’s a kind of manna that nourishes the soul as well as the body, and brings one’s heart and purpose in line with la dolce vita, the sweet life, the good life.

Our experienced Italian chef, Nancy Scala, has been learning the fine craft of Italian cooking since her early childhood in the Campania region of Italy where she was born. She learned many of the traditions and secrets behind the dishes she passes onto us today while standing at her mother’s side, entranced by the delicate process of converting fresh ingredients into luscious meals. After immigrating to the U.S., while still a child, her family ran several successful restaurants throughout the New York area and Nancy’s interest in the cultural origins of food and her own unique culinary heritage deepened. She became committed to perfecting her skills as a chef while living in Urbino and Bologna, and it is that passion of carrying on the traditions of authentic Italian cooking that she shares with us.

Through our internet culinary school you will be able to work at your own pace in the comfort of your own kitchen, but with a guide whom we believe is the next best thing to having Nonna there beside you, passing on the tradition—and a means to a more satisfying eating experience, if not a more satisfying life—one scrumptious and irresistible dish at a time.

For those who would like to offer this opportunity to a friend or family member as a gift, purchase an Ardesco Gift Card.