was born and raised in the Italian speaking part of Switzerland (Ticino canton). She feels lucky to have grown up in a bi-lingual German and Italian household and come to the US in her early 20s for an English language program. She is still here nearly 20 years later —she fell in love and married Tomas, the son of her host family! Simona has fond memories growing up alongside her father in professional kitchens and her mother in the home kitchen, learning vital skills from both that she passes to her two young sons, Dimitri and Enzo, as they cook and bake together.

Her father,