Figs & Famiglia
Welcome to Figs & Famiglia! My works highlight Italian culture, my family's Italian American journey, the artistry of cooking, as well as planting and harvesting garden fresh produce. I grew up with a large backyard garden surrounded by fruit trees. The garden is my father's pride and joy, especially his tomato plants and fig trees, of course! Helping him in the garden was the perfect time for me to listen to my father tell stories of his childhood in Italy, his experiences coming of age as an Italian immigrant in the U.S., and his experiences and success in the sport of wrestling, both as a participant and a coach. These stories turned to interviews as I got older, resulting in a memoir titled Wrestling with the Devil: A Story of Sacrifice, Survival, and Triumph, from the Hills of Naples to the Hall of Fame.
Famiglia is the Italian word for family. A common thread throughout my works is the intricate, complicated, and extraordinary bonds of family. One powerful memory I have is my dad giving me a fig to take for 'show & tell' in kindergarten. My teacher had no idea what it was, and I felt embarrassed at the time, but now I know that many people are still new to this luscious, exotic fruit. Figs will always evoke a sense of nostalgia and special memories for me, hence the title of my website, Figs & Famiglia. Thank you for visiting!
