As a young migrant, I felt torn between wanting to respect my Italian heritage and wanting to fit in.  At school, all I wanted to do was eat buttered rolls with chips and a meat pie like the other children, instead of homemade sandwiches filled with ‘pipi e patate’ (peppers & potatoes). As a mother and now grandmother,  I reflect on those early challenging years and realize how much they have shaped my character and identity. 

I learnt resilience, to be proud of my cultural heritage and to also embrace the cultural diversity in Australia. Australia provided opportunities for migrant families like mine to preserve and celebrate their culture and also participate in the Australian way of life. For me, preparing and sharing food, family recipes and the stories behind them has been a way to connect with people from all walks of life and generations, transcending all boundaries.

The food culture in Australia is a great example of how we celebrate cultural diversity in Australia.  I feel very privileged and grateful for the gifts, opportunities and insights that my Italian and Australian cultural background has given me -  a world of flavour: celebrating diversity through food!