Chef Giuseppina Pizzolato runs a very successful catering business from her family's vineyard near Certaldo. Giuseppina's Sicilian mother taught her the basics of Italian cuisine. She expanded her repertoire cooking for family and working in restaurants. A few years ago, the town of Certaldo asked her to provide a medieval dinner for 400. Her research on Tuscan food from the period led to the rediscovery of some wonderful dishes. She has been catering for eleven years and teaching cooking to locals and tourists for six years. Each February, Giuseppina comes to Houston, Texas, to teach cooking lessons and prepare private dinners.

Duchessa Dafne Canevaro comes from a distinguished Tuscan family of nobles--the Guicciardinis. She served as a translator for the Italian diplomatic corps before raising her three sons. Her heritage prompted her to study the culture of Italy.

Filippo Cerasoli was born in Atessa, Abruzzo. He lived in San Diego for four years, studying law at UCSD and working for an advertising company. After working in Denmark and England, he returned to Abruzzo, where he currently lives and works as a city manager. He speaks Italian, English, French, Danish and Swedish.