
Here’s my must-have list of kitchen essentials. Gizmos + gadgets, appliances, pots and pans, cookware, knives, and tabletop faves. For decades I’ve collected all your questions! The ones I get on social media, in DMs, emails and texts, from the blog, when I meet you or in our Secret Facebook Group. So I’ve decided to […]

Most people think of Monday as the first day of the week. But if we look at the story of creation … day 1, aka ground zero for Him was Sunday. Just like a tree needs strong roots to rise up and grow, I need a rock solid game plan to ensure the week ahead […]

I’ve spent a lot of time in the air and living out of suitcases. Nothing brings me more joy than visiting a foreign country and exploring new and exciting places and trying delicious food. But no matter where I go in the world…There are a few items you will always find in my luggage. Here’s […]

Over the years I have hosted small dinners and events that feed hundreds. I’ve cooked for Oscar winners, billionaires, Hollywood studios, friends and family. But no matter the size of the guest list, a successful party comes down to planning. I’m sharing the exact strategy I use every time I host. And I’m confident that […]

“You may have the Universe if I can have Italy” – Giuseppe Verdi Italy is the most gorgeous country in the world to travel to. I guess that is why I decided I wanted to retire there. And over the past decade, I have crisscrossed this country eating my weight in pizza. And I still […]

I have often seen parents who have a poor relationship with food and body image, pass this onto their kids. This is not the relationship with food we want to create for our children.

Rosemary Roasted Veggies are my go-to side. Each week I roast a huge batch. They are so brilliant. And the recipe is foolproof. You are going to love me. Speaking of love… I don’t even know how to thank you all for your shout-outs. I never in my wildest dreams imagined, that last year, thousands of […]

This 5 ingredient recipe is all about coconut and dates, two of my favorite ingredients. I’m obsessed with them. They go together like summertime and braais, like red wine and steak, like family and the holidays. So I decided to combine the 2 to create an awesome macaroon that is also Kosher for Passover. They […]

A rainbow-colored salad, with juicy farmer’s market sugar snap peas, gorgeous, fresh veggies, and a to-die-for dressing! I love nothing more than a big salad filled with crisp and crunchy seasonal veggies. I am always looking to make it as colorful as possible. After all, we eat with our eyes first. Also, each colored ingredient […]

Ready for a delicious anytime breakfast that will rock your world? This steak and eggs combo is everything. I know most people like cereal, pancakes, waffles or yogurt for breakfast. But not me… I grew up in South African and I would look forward to the weekends. My mom, who is a champion cook, would […]

Three layers of delicious, naughty, sinful, wicked goodness. Things are about to get super delicious around here with these triple-layered brownies. It’s Saul’s birthday and he isn’t the biggest fan of cakes or cupcakes. So I figured why not do epic brownies instead and use Saul’s favorite biscuit. The bottom layer is chocolate chip cookie […]

Word on the street is that breakfast is the most important meal of the day! It gets your metabolism firing and keeps you full till lunch. And it sets you up to make better choices during the day. A nutritious green smoothie balances out last night’s chocolate pizza. Right??? Right I go to be dreaming […]

Imagine your favorite roast chicken served over a bed of quinoa with a kumquat marmalade. You will love it. This chicken recipe was the result of some massive experimentation on my part. I started out wanting to make a curried chicken with kumquats a friend had brought over. I had some fennel lying around and […]

Main Course Salads are my favorite things in the whole wide world. And this is about to be your weeknight fav. Quinoa has been around for thousands of years. It’s a tiny, high-protein grain from South America. It’s nicknamed the “wonder grain” because it cooks more quickly than rice, is virtually foolproof, and is lighter […]
I'm Melissa, your host & tour guide.
A Food Network chef, author, mamma, eternal optimist, wannabe-mermaid, spice mixologist, and “dough therapist” (yep, it’s a thing)—
I'm also the founder of Susina Cucina, the gorgeous, Italian cooking school I manifested into my reality. I’m obsessed with Aperol spritzes, travel, and mouthwatering food… especially pizza and pasta.
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Wanna know the tried and tested go-tos a globetrotter and chef can’t live without? Here’s my must-have gizmos, gadgets, and essentials—all my favorite things I swear by. Plus, what I’m reading, wearing, and packing for my next trip.
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