Ciao Again!
I am Caterina, chef, mum, student and
founder of Litte Brave Celery…
…and this is my story!
I grew up in Piacenza, a small city in northern Italy, where the kitchen was the heart of our family.
Both of my grandmothers were professional chefs, and from the moment
I could reach the counter; I was by their side. I spent my childhood in the kitchen, learning to cook alongside my Nonne, food was never just food, it was tradition, love, and connection.
Let’s just say I have been in an apron for as long as I can remember.
To turn my passion into a profession, I enrolled at the Istituto Alberghiero of Piacenza, my hometown’s renowned hospitality school. For five years, I studied the rich traditions of Italian cuisine, building the skills and confidence to follow in my grandmothers’ footsteps and bring people together with food. After my studies, I started like many who enter the kitchen for the first time, from the bottom, peeling potatoes and washing dishes, but with curiosity, determination, and a deep love for food, I worked my way up and earned my place as a chef.
From my hometown my culinary journey took me to Milan and London where I gained experience in Michelin-starred restaurants, cafés and bakeries.
I left home at 19 and never looked back: Food became my passport, and every kitchen a new adventure. After all those years of chasing flavours across Europe, I began to feel like something was missing. The world of fine dining was incredible, but I wanted something that reached beyond the plate. That is when I found New Zealand, and I instantly fell in love.
I traveled across New Zealand, exploring local food scenes and learning about Kiwi nutrition.
My journey shifted direction when I became a chef at an early childhood centre: the experience that changed everything. I discovered a whole new world of nutrition, one that focused not on perfection, but on growth, care, and giving little ones the best possible start. I saw the gaps, and I knew I could help, by bringing the Mediterranean approach, the Italian love for fresh food, and my culinary roots to Kiwi tables.
New Zealand has given me more than just a new journey,
it has given me a home.
Motherhood, alongside my experiences, nurtured a deep passion for nourishing little ones and understanding the role food plays in the earliest stages of life and during maternity. That passion led me to pursue a bachelor’s degree in human nutrition, with the intention of becoming a registered Dietitian, focused in the first 1000 days and beyond. The journey is still unfolding, shaping my path while opening space for new passions to grow and what’s yet to come.