About Judy

Transplanted Californian- Reborn Tuscan. I have always loved to travel and found my passion for cooking. Moving to Italy united both of these and allowed me to create a life and a job I love. I had worked as a pastry chef in a 5-star hotel in San Francisco but wanted to get out of the kitchen and start to teach.

In 1984 I turned 30 and bought a one-way ticket to Europe, planning on spending one month in France and one month in Italy taking Italian lessons. In France, I reconnected with old friends and possible places I could work, but when I arrived in Florence, I fell in love, first with the city, and then a year later with a Florentine. My first years here were spent learning the language and the cuisine. My first job cooking was as a pastry chef in a private restaurant in town. After 4 years, I finally felt ready to teach. I started classes for local students in the study abroad programs here in 1988, working with Syracuse University and then began to also teach for other language schools.

In 1997, I opened my first website, MangiaFirenze, offering Market to Table classes as well. Divina Cucina was created to expand on the Market to Table program and offer full week programs exploring the area and actually meeting and cooking with local artisans, chefs, and cooks on farms. My market to table classes were the first one-day programs in Italy.

In 2024, I will be celebrating 40 years in Italy. As part of the celebration, I am taking a sabbatical from teaching and touring and will be writing a memoir on my Substack newsletter for my paid members.

I will be writing about Becoming Tuscan- One Recipe At A Time

It really takes a village. It is also the 150th anniversary of the opening of the Mercato Centrale, which was where I lived basically for the first 20 years and ran my cooking classes and tours.

Join my on my trip back honoring those who have taught me. Sign up here.