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Let's live deliciously! Here you'll find the very best recipes, travel guides, podcasts, videos, and wellness tips to create a healthy, beautiful joyful life.

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Melissa’s Kitchen Masterlist

Obsessed

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 […]

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Sunday Strategies For Success

Wellness

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 […]

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Must-Pack Travel Essentials

Travel

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 […]

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Effortless Entertaining

Lifestyle

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 […]

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Top Italy Travel Tips

Travel

“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 […]

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A Healthy Body Image

Wellness

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.

You’ll love this extra crunchy and bright tropical island-inspired Cabbage Salad, with loads of nuts and dried fruits and a zingy vinaigrette! I am addicted to and crunchy and chewy salad with tons of texture. So I chopped up a head of red cabbage and loaded up this baby with all sorts of dried fruits […]

Ready for the BEST and EASIEST chicken soup you’ll ever try? Growing up in a Jewish home chicken soup was the equivalent of penicillin. My mom would boil it for hours and hours and ladle out steaming hot bowls to fix whatever ailment we had. It was a childhood favorite even when no one was […]

Pizza Night! It is one of my favorite nights of the week and this week didn’t disappoint! I mean I spend half the year in Italy so it should come as no surprise that I have a legit full-blown pizza addiction. Tonight’s pizza was loaded with Figs, Nectarines, and Walnuts on a bed of ooey, […]

My life revolves around food. I live for it, I dream about it… Food is basically the reason I exist. And I adore finding fun new ways to use veggies. This salad is simple and satisfying with tons of texture and flavor. I’ve taken raw broccoli and cauliflower on a trip to the Middle East. […]

My love with Goat Cheese is infinite. It’s the perfect thing to slather on a cracker or crusty bread. The holidays are here and I know you are probably looking for easy, yummy, and delicious party recipes. This cheese and cracker combo is a sure-fire winner when you are entertaining a crowd. Don’t even get […]

This drink has romance written all over it. It’s perfect for date night, an anniversary, Valentine’s Day, or anytime you want to woo and court someone special. Not only does it look pretty, but it tastes delicious. The Elderflower and rosewater add a floral note, the rosé makes it light enough to drink anytime and […]

The perfect salad to ring in Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year. With less than a week to go chag is fast approaching. I am so overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from people around the world. Each of you took the time to like and share my brisket recipe with those you love. I […]

Run, run, as fast as you can. You can’t catch me, I’m the gingerbread man. The truth is Christmas and cookies go together like bread and butter. So here are these soft, chewy ginger cookies…because I am totally ready for the holidays. And the bonus is they are really, really, really delicious. Children all around […]

Chicken inspired by a recent trip to Jamaica where I tasted my first jerk chicken. Every person on the island has their own family recipe for this mouth-watering chicken. It’s coated in a seasoning mixture dominated by spices and chillis and then grilled. My rub is a mix of a blend of chillis, thyme, cinnamon, […]

Give me all of the pavlova all of the time. Cause I just can’t get enough!!! This is probably one of the first desserts I mastered. It is so easy to make and very impressive to serve. The crunchy edges are just like meringue cookies. Pavlova is made from egg whites that are slowly baked […]

This recipe for rack of lamb is one of my favorites. I love the sweetness the figs bring to the glaze. It’s is nicely balanced with the acidity of the balsamic vinegar. And the smell of rosemary just makes me happy. Growing up My Aunty Sylvia used to have a fig tree in her backyard. […]

An ahhh-mazing hearty healing bowl of Artichoke Soup – that’s healthy, comforting, and oh so delicious! The oh so simple artichoke (or carciofi to my Italian friend) is one of those ingredients the Mayo family cannot get enough of. When it comes to eating artichokes all roads, as ever, lead to Rome. Artichokes, carciofi in […]

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.

more about me

Ciao Bella,

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The Magic of Italy
without the planning

Explore

Food Netwok Chef, Melissa is dishing up delicious food and a once-in-a-lifetime experience for your soul.

find out more →

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Healthy living is beautiful … That’s why it’s calledLa Dolce Vita”.

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