My Dolce Vita Experience

Shopping at the Sant’Ambrogio Farmer’s Market

Ciao!

My name is Ileana, and I have this undying passion for making fresh pasta, so much so I left my career in advertising in NYC to pursue my fresh pasta making passion in Florence in 2016. A specialty class in Bologna to learn how to roll pasta al matterello, 2 years of culinary school and here we are….

One of my favorite activities is going to my local farmer’s market in Sant’Ambrogio. Nothing excites me more than seeing a new vegetable or fruit pop up at the market as the seasons progress and to dream up new recipes or make Tuscan classics.

My local food purveyors have become friends, they’re always sharing their passion for the simple bounty of Italy and the freshest of ingredients. Italians love talking about their next meal, while they’re eating their current meal and that’s how I knew I was in the right place. I have a guy for everything, my vegetable guy, my Sicilian fruit couple, my butchers, the cheese guy and a civaio (someone who sells fresh beans and grains).

I want to share my passion with you and show you how to use your local ingredients to bring Italy to your plate

Since the pandemic, I have pivoted to teaching fresh pasta online and launched the Bottega DV Shop.

About Bottega DV:

As I started teaching fresh pasta online a new idea was born to bring highly curated made in Italy cooking and lifestyle products to your home. All products are made artisanally or from multi-generation family businesses.

Each item in the shop I use for cooking, making fresh pasta or for the Dolce Vita Lifestyle. Think everything from artisanal olive wood cooking utensils, brass fresh pasta making tools, artisanal biscotti, beautiful hand painted Italian linen textiles, with more to come