For Colomba, food has always been about more than recipes—it's about preserving traditions, celebrating family, and keeping Italian culture alive.

In this episode, Colomba, better known as Festa In Cucina, shares how her daughter encouraged her to start creating content online and how that one suggestion led to a thriving community of people who love authentic Italian cooking and traditions.

We dive into growing up in a close-knit Italian-American family in the Bronx, where cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents all lived just steps away. Colomba reflects on the values, traditions, and unforgettable memories that shaped her childhood, from speaking Italian and learning colorful expressions to celebrating Christmas with family around the table.

If you've ever wondered how Italians choose quality ingredients, Colomba explains what to look for when buying pasta, olive oil, and tomatoes, why whole tomatoes are often preferred over crushed, and the kitchen essentials she simply can't live without. She also shares which of her recipes unexpectedly went viral—and why some she thought would be huge never took off.

The conversation also explores balancing work and family, visiting Italy, and why passing down family recipes is about preserving memories as much as preserving flavors.

In this episode:

How Colomba started Festa In Cucina
Speaking Italian and learning expressions from family
How to choose quality pasta and olive oil
Italian traditions and family values
Christmas in an Italian-American family
Whole tomatoes vs. crushed tomatoes
Midlife conversations and reflections

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Podcast editing by https://podcastmagician.com/