Coming from an Italian American family, food has always been at the heart of our home. Every birthday and holiday was centered around food, and even a quick stop at my grandmother's house was treated like a special event. What can I get you to drink? What can I get you to eat? I would never leave empty handed. That irresistible Italian American hospitality is something I have always admired and naturally absorbed.

It feels fitting that my first job was at an Italian bakery. I spent nearly eight years there throughout high school and college, learning life lessons, building work ethic, and falling in love with the rhythm of a place where people gather. I watched family and friends stop in for a treat, pick up party orders, or simply grab a coffee and say hello, and the warmth of those everyday moments inspired me. Seeing how one neighborhood bakery could become an important part of so many lives lit a spark in me. I knew I wanted to create a place of my own where friends, family, and the community could come together and feel at home.

During school, my friends and I practically lived at our hometown coffee shop, studying, doing homework, or just hanging out. It became a special place for all of us, and it made me realize how powerful a space like that could be. We explored coffee shops across Rhode Island and discovering new favorites quickly became one of our favorite hobbies. Eventually, I switched to business school because I knew, even without every detail figured out, that I wanted to build something of my own.

After graduation I moved to Florida, where my mom and I finally began building the dream we had talked about for years, rooted in our shared passion for baking, family, and tradition.

At Bellabean, my goal is to share the recipes and traditions that shaped me, from family baked goods to Italian American favorites that feel like home. I want Bellabean to be a place where you can gather with friends, get work done, study, or simply grab a coffee and unwind. A place that feels familiar the moment you walk in and where hospitality comes first.

My passion for baking has deep roots, starting at a young age, while spending countless hours in the kitchen with my family. Growing up in an Italian-American household in Rhode Island, the kitchen was the heart of our home, full of life and the comforting aroma of something cooking or baking. I’d get so excited to see the mixer and recipe cards on the counter, knowing I’d get to help. My mom would give me a piece of dough and I would practice making my cookies, just like her.

Most days I listened to mom on the phone with her friends and relatives who baked, exchanging ideas to perfect their recipes- “a pinch more sugar, a little less ricotta, a little more vanilla”. I became fascinated with how small changes created delicious desserts, and how sharing those creations brought people together.

Cookies, pies, and cakes filled the house with the sweetest scents. On Sundays, the big pot came out to make the gravy (sauce), and the smell of garlic and oil perfumed the house. Every day, dad had the perk pot out, ready for company, and my parents would be on the phone saying to someone, “come over for Coffee And”. It could be coffee and any dessert and coffee and conversation.

The kitchen was constantly full of neighbors, family, friends, or relatives visiting from Italy. I would sit around the table with my parents and siblings, and just listen to all the wonderful stories being shared. Making cookie trays and delivering them to relatives at Christmas became one of my most favorite traditions and my love for baking grew greater. Traditions and togetherness were everything to me and those moments shaped who I am. When I got married and started my own family, I carried those memories and cherished recipes with me, recreating the same sense of love, warmth, and connection for my children.

Now living in Bradenton, I hope Bellabean offers others a taste of that same warmth- a timeless place where people can experience the heart of my Italian-American heritage. I hope it can be a symbol of comfort and authenticity for all who enter and sit around the table. I’m so grateful to be able to share this journey with my daughter Isabella, who shares my love of good coffee, sweet treats, and tradition. Together, we’re carrying our family’s story forward- one “coffee and” at a time.