Unbeknownst to her, Elena was destined to end up somewhere in the food industry. While growing up she enjoyed spending summers at her grandmothers where she learned how to bake, jar tomatoes and make assorted jellies. She also has fond memories of learning how to make ravioli and taralli’s with her Great grandmother, great aunts, grandmother and mother. While going to school like most students she waited tables. Somehow, she always wound up in the kitchen doing some kitchen prep work and eventually assisting the chefs and cooks on the line. It was at that time she understood that famous phrase “do what you love and never spend a day working”. Elena changed her direction at school and got a chef’s certification from Middlesex County College. She proceeded to start her own catering company while also working in Garmache at the prestigious short Hills Hilton, a 5-diamond hotel in NJ. After spending many years in the “back of the house”, she decided it was time for a new chapter. Elena started her foodservice career 23 years ago and she has had the privilege of working for Unilever, Kerry North America, Ventura Foods, and Colavita USA. At each company she used her knowledge and passion for food to expand that company’s product mix at National restaurants such as Cracker Barrel, Shake Shack, Jersey Mike’s, Wawa, Quick Chek and Aramark, to name a few. At the April meeting, Elena will share with us how olive oil is produced and what makes olive oils taste different. Members may also choose to participate in an olive oil tasting.
February 2020 - Arturo Spinetti, Singer January 2020 - Sal De Sapio, Constantino Brumidi - the Michelangelo of America
November 2019 - Joe Quagliano and Mark Cardillo, Italian American Baseball Foundation October 2019 - Constance Kyriacos and Paula Phillips, Folk Dancers and Singers September 2019 - Gary Dee, Singer/Entertainer June 2019 - Annual Scholarship Awards Night May 2019 - Joe Mannino, Italian Bakery and Espresso Bar April 2019 - Annual Foundation Gala honoring Paul and Norma Santella March 2019 - Mary Lou and Jerome Bongiorno, Producers February 2019 - Mike DeLucia: Author, Teacher January 2019 - Dr. Ottavio Balena
November 2017 - Dr. Ottavio Balena, Cultural Comparative Geography of Italy's Provinces. October 2017 - Dr. William Connell September 2017 - Susan LangSapora June 2017 - Scholarship Awards Night! May 2016 - Richard Muti April 2017 - 3rd Annual Gala March 2017 - Richard Stillman February 2017 - Andrea' Cassar January 2017 - Kevin Corcoran
November 2015 - Chef Christine Ayers October 2015 - Heritage Night – What is Your Ancestry or Ascendena? September 2015 - Joseph DeFranco, Author June 2015 - Jerry Castaldo, Entertainer; Scholarship Awards Night! May 2015 - Dr. William J. Connell April 2015 - John Richetta, Musician February 2015 - Joseph R. Pucciatti & Sandra Milstein-Pucciatti, Founders of Boheme Opera NJ January 2015 - Dr. Ottavio Balena, Italian History
November 2014 - Carol Barbieri October 2014 - Chef Christine Ayers, Grand Colonial September 2014 - Dr. Mary Ann Re, Director of the Coccia Institute June 2014 - Lou Pompilio, Entertainer; Scholarship Awards Night! May 2014 - Rosary Scacciaferro Gilheany, Author April 2014 - Arthur J. Femenella, Stained Glass Artisan March 2014 - Giuseppe Luisi, Banfi Vintners February 2014 - Sal and Michael DeSapio, Viaggi Italiani January 2014 - Catherine Sprague, Pianist, Author
November 2013 - Bill Deni, Sal and Michael DeSapio: Italian Travels October 2013 - Sam Faiello: Public Relations Professional, Novelist September 2013 - Andre' DiMino: A National Leader of the Italian American Community June 2013 - Carmen Jon: Singer, Entertainer; Scholarship Awards Night May 2013 - Charles Haas: Titanic Historian April 2013 - Mike Manella, March 2013 - Al Notabartolo: Engineer, Brick-Oven Pizza Guru February 2013 - Anthony Del Aversano: Entrepreneur, Author: "It's Gravy, not Sauce!" January 2013 - Donna Arold: Inn Keeper, Entrepreneur
November 2011 - Andrea Barbaria: Italian Consul June 2011 - Bob Marino: Singer/Entertainer; Scholarship Awards Night May 2011 - Vicki Vasilopoulos: Director/Producer April 2011 - Jonathan Yalenti of Benfatto Coffee March 2011 - Dr. Felice Caldarella: MD, FACE, MDE, FACP February 2011 - Guy DeSapio: Author, Poet: "I Have His Letters Still"
June 2010 - Dan Torrone, aka "Dr. D"; Scholarship Awards Night May 2010 - John Paolini: Paolini Cast Stone, Inc. April 2010 - Vincenzo Sagari: Vias Imports March 2010 - Spencer Peck: Coinage of the Roman Republic February 2010 - Carl Carabelli: President, Italian American National Hall of Fame
May 2009 - Dan Torrone, aka "Dr. D" April 2009 - Sam Faiello:- The Rocky Road to a Novel March 2009 - Tenor James Valenti
June 2006 - Scholarship Awards Night May 2006 - Greg Napolitan: Chainsaw Artist April 2006 - Anthony Carabelli, Jr.: Director and Public Relations for NJ State Italian Commission March 2006 - What Does it Mean to be a Second or Third Generation Italian-American? February 2006 - Biography of Bishop John Smith January 2006 - NJ's Treasure Trove of Italian and Italian-American History