Sal Baldanza, of Mr. Sausage, was born and raised in Amantea, in the province of Calabria, Italy. His father passed away when he was quite
young, and his mother Aida was left to raise her eight children alone. Her cooking was fantastic, but life was not easy. Sal and his twin brother Rocco had to leave school and go to work to keep the family afloat. After a stint
in the Italian Navy, Sal risked everything in 1983 and immigrated to America
to start a new life. "The Calabrese have a motto: testa dura," he says. "You've got to think it, you've got to believe it!"

Kerriann Flanagan Brosky, Ghosts of Long Island author, grew up on Long Island, the eldest of three children born to Michael Flanagan and
Deanna D'Amato Flanagan. Her passion for Italian food was cultivated over years of watching her mother move effortlessly around the kitchen
preparing delicious dishes.  Despite her father's Irish heritage and the
exciting introduction of German recipes from her husband Karl, Kerriann confirms, "My true love will always be Italian cooking. For me, it's like
coming home." Kerriann is convinced that, had she not become a photographer and writer, she would have pursued a culinary career.