A “Gaucha” of Italian ascendency, Nadia was born in Southern Brazil – Porto Alegre – where she has always cultivated her passion for food, following in her parents’ footsteps. Daughter of a popular restaurateur, she spent a great deal of time in the family property. Nadia worked with clients, vendors and employees, all to ensure quality and satisfaction.

At an early age, she fell in love with the arts and began taking ballet and tap classes. For over 17 years she danced her feet away and only left that field to follow her dreams in the US. In 1997 she entered college and soon her heart became American; in 2001 Nadia transferred her course of study to New York and graduated in 2002 at Empire State College with a Bachelor’s degree in Cultural Studies.

Only a few years after working in the media, Nadia found her true passion: the culinary arts. She took recreational courses at the Institute of Culinary Education and began to research her roots.

Deeply involved by the smell of her kitchen, she decided it was time to register the family traditions and recipes; the seed was planted for what became a book.

In October of 2011, Nadia and her father Elson released a book entitled “From Dad to Daughter: the 100 Best Recipes”, aiming to preserve her family’s legacy in print. With more than 40 years of industry experience, the result couldn’t be better: Nadia combined her father’s biography with family recipes, adding her international touch.

Three years later, in October of 2014, Nadia toured Brazil launching her second cookbook, “Kids, Bom apetite!” . The bilingual book not only offers kids a chance to learn another language, but also exposes them to healthy and creative ways to present their foods. With a focus on fruits and vegetables, children can experience new meals.