About Maria

Maria Battaglia

Maria has traversed the Italian peninsula and has immersed herself in the culture, the language, the people and Italian lifestyle. She has developed, directed and taught culinary courses all across Italy, which she considers her greatest joy and passion in life. Maria also conducts lectures and seminars on Italian food both in the U.S. and Italy.

Her profound knowledge of Italian gastronomy, coupled with an inherent love for Italian food and wine, has earned her the respect and admiration of people from all corners of the globe - people who share her passion for some of the finest food and wine to be found anywhere.

She is also an accomplished and decorated food writer, and syndicated restaurant reviewer, and correspondent. Her work has appeared in newspapers and magazines including, Food & Wine Magazine, Santé, Magazine and Vinotizi. In addition to her publishing-related work, Maria Battaglia has been a consultant and spokesperson for various Italian and American companies. Her work includes creative recipe development, performance product testing, product presentations, trade show and PR presentations. Maria has lectured about the history of Italian cooking and culture for The Italian Cultural Institute. Her clients included working with the Italian Trade Commission, The Greenbrier Resort, Barilla America, Kraft Foods, Parmigiano Reggiano, Grana Padano, Pecorino Romano, Asiago, the American Meat Institute, Paterno Imports, and National Cattlemenõs Beef Association and, in Italy, MASI, Serigo Alighieri Winery and Vialone Nano Rice.

She was the only female judge on the distinguished panel of Concorso Enologico from the Camera di Camera di Commercio I.A.A.. in Alessandria, in the region of Piedmont, Italy. She was chosen by the Italian Trade Commission in New York to speak and develop the menu and wine matching for the region of Abruzzo at the Italian Wine Week in Chicago. Over the past several years, she has attended numerous VINEXPO seminars in the U.S. and Italy.

Maria has served as the National Spokesperson for Contadina Foods and judge for the James Beard Foundation National cookbook awards. She was voted "one of the five best cooking teachers" by The Chicago Tribune and is a recipient of Italyõs prestigious Diploma di Merito (Diploma of Achievement) from the Federation of Italian Chefs in Italy, an accomplishment of which she is abundantly proud.

The Honorable Richard M. Daley, Mayor of Chicago, Illinois, appointed Maria to the Milan-Chicago Sister City committee. She is an accademica for the Accademia Italiana della Cucina of Milan, Italy, to the U.S. Maria is also a member of Research Chefs Association, IACP and Slow Food, a movement which is dear to her heart, for she believes that good food and wine should do more than merely fill the void; it should be enjoyed and savored and respected as works of culinary art.