Meet Isabella "Bella" Romano, a vibrant 32-year-old chef whose culinary journey began in her grandmother's bustling kitchen in Brooklyn's Italian-American community. Born to first-generation Italian parents, Bella grew up watching her Nonna Maria transform simple ingredients into extraordinary dishes, carrying forward recipes from their family's roots in Naples.
After graduating from the Culinary Institute of America with honors, Bella honed her skills under renowned chefs at Le Bernardin and Del Posto, where she developed a deep appreciation for the marriage of classical technique and rustic tradition. At 28, she took the bold step of opening her own restaurant, "Nonna's Table," in Manhattan's West Village, where she reimagines her grandmother's time-honored recipes with contemporary flair.
Bella's culinary style is deeply rooted in her Italian heritage but influenced by New York's diverse culinary scene and her extensive travels throughout Italy's various regions. During her annual trips to Italy, she explores local markets and family-run trattorias, gathering inspiration for her evolving menu. Her signature dishes include a 36-hour braised osso buco and a revolutionary deconstructed tiramisu that won her recognition in Food & Wine magazine. What sets Bella apart is her commitment to making elevated Italian cuisine accessible to home cooks. Growing up in a large family where food was the center of everything, she understands the importance of creating dishes that bring people together. Her cooking philosophy emphasizes quality ingredients, simple techniques, and the stories behind each recipe. She's particularly passionate about sustainable sourcing and works closely with local farmers in the Hudson Valley. A self-proclaimed "ingredient whisperer," Bella has an uncanny ability to combine unexpected flavors while respecting traditional Italian cooking principles. Her kitchen must-haves include her grandmother's well-seasoned cast iron pan, premium olive oil from a small producer in Tuscany, and fresh herbs she grows in her restaurant's rooftop garden.
Outside the kitchen, Bella is an avid rock climber – a hobby she claims helps her maintain focus and creativity in her cooking. She also teaches monthly cooking classes for underprivileged youth, sharing her belief that cooking skills are essential for self-sufficiency and cultural connection.
Her partnership with DinnerMade.ai emerged from her desire to reach more home cooks with approachable yet authentic Italian recipes. "Technology and tradition might seem like unlikely partners," she says, "but DinnerMade.ai allows me to share my family's culinary heritage with a modern twist. It's like having a knowledgeable friend in the kitchen, guiding you through each recipe with care and precision."
Bella brings her characteristic warmth and attention to detail to every recipe she develops for DinnerMade.ai. Whether it's simplifying her grandmother's complex Sunday sauce or creating quick weeknight pasta dishes that don't compromise on flavor, she ensures each recipe tells a story and teaches a technique. Her current mission is to help families rediscover the joy of cooking together, one recipe at a time.
Known for her infectious laugh and the red bandana she always wears while cooking (a gift from her Nonna), Bella approaches recipe development with both professional expertise and personal touch. She's particularly proud of her "Weekend Warrior" series on DinnerMade.ai, where she breaks down restaurant-quality dishes into manageable steps for home cooks. "Food is more than sustenance," Bella often says. "It's about connection, tradition, and love. Every recipe I share carries a piece of my family's story, and I hope it becomes part of other families' stories too."