Who is Caroleena?

Caroleena is an American woman, who at age 20, went to Tuscany where she met and married Aldo, an Italian count. Caroleena spent 10 years in Tuscany, living in both a farm village and Florence depending on the weather. Caroleena didn't know how to cook much when she went to Italy, and nobody expected her to learn. After all, she ate meals with her husband at some of the finest restaurants every day, and had no need to cook on her own. But Caroleena wanted to know, and she learned from the best chefs and family cooks. Her first husband even bought her a restaurant called 'Vien'.

Caroleena is seen here standing outside the restaurant 'Vien" a few years ago on a trip to Italy with her second husband and their two children.

Caroleena has operated a catering company for a number of years. She moved to Chapel Hill, North Carolina from New York after the 9/11 incident because her husband Michael is a native of Chapel Hill. She also has had to take "a day job" to support her culinary habits.

Caroleena has condensed her favorite, most requested, and most often cooked recipes into this cookbook. According to Caroleena, "Rachel Ray makes 30 minute meals, I make 15 minute meals!" However, Caroleena has been known to cook dishes that take more time, such as soups that simmer for hours, and other dishes that are family favorites.