Mamma Agata

I started cooking in the summer villa here in Ravello when I was thirteen. The villa was owned by a wealthy American woman by the name of Mary Jane Chirigo.

She used to organize large parties every weekend and the guest list was drawn from Hollywood and European celebrities such as Elizabeth Taylor, Frank Sinatra, Audrey Hepburn, Humphrey Bogart, Sophia Loren and Marcello Mastroianni. Most of the actors and actresses stayed on at the villa since it was a haven for tranquility.

It was Bogart that gave me the name of "Baby Agata" and he was a sweet man with a wonderful sense of humor.

He made a tradition out of having my lemon cake (made with limoncello) for breakfast! This is the cake that is now mentioned in "Naples At Table", the cookbook by Arthur Schwartz.

The daily menu was decided upon in the morning, and after awhile I was making all the decisions on my own, since my employer had so much faith in me.

Large gatherings were decided upon a few days in advance and we always used regional ingredients in the simple, rustic meals.

I loved my work then and even more now, whether cooking for a celebrity, my family, my students, and do not laugh, my three dogs and 8 cats (I cook for them too). I do not see any difference in any of them, for they are all human to me.

I can give happiness through my cooking and I feel so good at the end of a meal. I have even had students who came into my kitchen at the end, crying from a beautiful experience and thanking me. That is what makes me happy!

My tip for everyone is that keep it simple, use genuine ingredients and love what you do. You will have a huge success!