RAIED IN A SOUTHERN ITALIAN HOUESHOLD. I HAVE LIVED ALL AROUND THE WORL,INCLUDING THE USA,NYC,WESTERBN PACIFIC, HAWAII AND WEST INDIES, AND EUROPE. MY FAVORITE WAY TO "STUDY" COOKING IS WATCHING OVER A GRANDMA'S SHOULDER! THE ONLY WAY!! WHEN TRAVELING, I HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO STOP PEOPLE WALKING DOGS (RESIDENTS)AS I CAN SAY "IF IT WERE YOUR BIRTHDAY WHERE WOULD YOU EAT DINNER?" IN MANY DIFFERENT LANGUAGES!I GROW FRESH AND EAT LOCAL WHERE EVER I LIVE, AND AM NOW BACK IN NEW JERSEY THE GARDEN STATE. I LOVE THE SOUTHERN ITALIAN COOKING THAT MY GRANDMOTHER TAUGHT ME, AND ALWAYS WATCHED AND IMMITATED "FAMILY EXPERT COOKS" WHILE LIVING IN ITALY, AND I LIKE HOMESTYLE FRENCH COOKING AS I STUDIED WITH INTERMEDIATE-ADVANCED FRENCH HOUSEWIVES WHILE LIVING IN PARIS. I DABBLE IN THAI COOKING SINCE I VISITED THE COUNTY SEVERAL TIMES, EACH TIME TAKING A ONE DAY COOKING COURSE WITH OTHER INTERESTED TOURISTS. THOSE ARE ALL MY FAVORITE CUISINES. OF COURSE NOTHING BEATS FRESH DAILY "MARKET COOKING"....GO TO THE MARKET AND COME HOME WITH WHAT'S FRESH AND TREAT IT SIMPLY! SOUTHERN ITALIAN WITHOUT A DOUBT. SOUTHERN ITALIAN CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY DISHES AND GOOD OLD FASHIONED AMERICAN DINNER MY BANANA BREAD, MY RED VELVET CAKE, MY STOLEN FROM MY MOTHER EGGPLANT PARMESAN, AND MY HOMEMADE PIZZA, AS WELL AS MY FRESH FISH PREPARATIONS. PUFF PASTRY!!...NEED I SAY MORE FELLOW COOKS??? LOL THERE WERE ALSO THREE-FOUR DAY PANNETONE ATTEMPTS!! UNTIL FINALLY I HAD TO SAY....BUY IT FROM THE EXPERTS AT CHRISTMAS AND DONE WITH IT!!(YOU COULD FEED A SMALL COUNTRY WITH THE BUTTER AND EGGS I USED ON MY FAILURES!) FORTUNATELY FOR MY MY CO-WORKERS LOVE MY "FAILURES"!