Authenticity, history, and tradition. Those three words define Mary Ann Esposito and the signature cooking style that have made her one of America's best-known and most loved television chefs.
Broadcast nationally and internationally, Ciao Italia with Mary Ann Esposito™ is television’s longest-running cooking show. For 19 years Mary Ann has been as renowned for her knowledge of authentic Italian cuisine as her warm, encouraging approach to cooking.
Growing up in Depew, New York, Mary Ann was steeped in the artistry of Italian cooking. Both nonnas, one Sicilian and one Neapolitan, were Italian natives and professional cooks, so life inside the Saporito household was decidedly Italian, no matter what was going on outside their front door in Western New York.
After a pivotal trip to Italy made her realize that what she was learning in cooking classes abroad she innately knew from her all-Italian, all-the-time upbringing, she pondered the “what if’s” of hosting a cable program that would teach the cooking lessons she learned as a child. The result was Ciao Italia with Mary Ann Esposito™. And today, 19 years later, Mary Ann has been recognized by countless organizations for her efforts to preserve the traditions surrounding Italian food and culture, and has become the doyenne of PBS.
Mary Ann’s television experience spans beyond PBS: she has appeared on the TODAY show, Regis and Kelly, QVC, the Food Network, RAI International (Italian television), The Victory Garden, Simply Ming. She has been a guest on Sirius Radio’s Morning Living on the Martha Stewart channel; and she has appeared beside chefs Todd English, Daisy Martinez, Sara Moulton, Jacques Pepin, Martin Yan, and countless others.
In academia, Mary Ann has studied and taught in numerous cooking schools throughout Italy. She received Johnson and Wales University’s Distinguished Author Award and she is a regular contributor to Boston University’s School of Lifelong Learning program, as well as a Board Member of Cordon Blu, Atlantic Culinary Academy, and a member of Les Dames d'Escoffier. In 2006 she was granted an honorary doctorate from St. Anselm College for her dedication to teaching and preserving authentic Italian cuisine.
In addition to producing Ciao Italia and making nationwide appearances, Mary Ann has written 10 cookbooks. Ciao Italia Slow and Easy (St. Martin’s Press) -- hit bookstores in Nov 2007 and is consistently among Amazon.com’s top rated Italian cookbooks.
Ciao Italia with Mary Ann Esposito™and each of Mary Ann’s books, reflect her interests and experiences; they are infused with personal anecdotes, historical background, patient instruction and a great deal of charm. From a high school classroom to an international stage, she never stops teaching.
|
