In 1922, Anna Ristucci left the mountains of Calabria, Italy and moved to the South Side of Chicago to begin an exciting new life with dreams of raising her children in America. While her husband worked long hours, Anna struggled to raise a growing family, ensuring their home was rich with the traditions of the “old country”. Anna’s passion for food was evident in her love of gardening her own fresh ingredients, which she combined with the recipes and traditions of the Ristucci family.
Mike Kramer grew up in his Grandmother’s kitchen. Beginning as a young boy, he stood along side her, helping her as she bustled about in the kitchen. His childhood was filled with these warm memories – watching and learning as his Grandmother created her Italian feasts from the traditional Ristucci family recipes, which were never written down, but rather, always recalled from memory. And just like that, a lifelong passion for food was handed down to another generation.