Mary AbitantoMary Abitanto

Mary is a prolific author and an entrepreneur promoting her brand “Mariooch’s Kitchen.” She lives amidst horse and fresh produce farms in a scenic suburban town in New Jersey with her husband Peter, their children Maggie, Sydney, and Jack, and two puppies Charlie and Teddy. 

A talented self-taught chef and accomplished food stylist and photographer, Mary inherits her love and passion for cooking from her Italian grandmother. Mariooch, “little Mary” in Italian was a fitting choice for her brand as it was a nickname given to her by her Italian Father, and a name she cherishes.

Mary pays tribute to her Italian roots in her first cookbook, Food That Will Gather Your Family where she meticulously adapts recipes to preserve old-world flavor and heritage while updating recipes to fit her family’s taste and healthy lifestyle. 

She also loves exploring other cultures in her cookbook, Food From My Heart & Home. It offers many healthy recipes with creative twists and is jam-packed with entertaining tips and styling ideas. Raising and feeding athletes, including one D1 college athlete takes a lot of creative footwork in the kitchen. Morning Glory Starters Chapter teaches you how to create perfectly poached eggs, blueberry compote, a berry shake with beet juice to maximize performance, and SuperHerpower mini muffins to name a few.

Gather For The Holidays has something for everybody and showcases Mary’s exceptional talent for hosting large gatherings with creative well-planned menus and desserts that leave nothing to be desired like her ever-popular cannoli trifle. This stunning well-written book teaches you to create holiday magic for your guests that will never be forgotten.

Mary is grateful to have garnered the support of Chefs Graham Elliot, David Burke, Joanne Mosconi, and Kenneth Temple all who have endorsed her cookbooks. Christie Brinkley and Denise Austin are among some celebrities who love Mary’s recipes and follow her on Instagram.  

Prior to turning her attention full-time to growing her brand, Mary earned her MBA. When she’s not busy cooking, entertaining, or writing on her blog (or another cookbook!), she enjoys long power walks and beach getaways. 

These days she is eating more of a flexitarian lifestyle which includes some nonfat dairy, a little meat, chicken, and fish and focuses mainly on plant-based meals and avoids processed foods which for her are used in moderation. She really enjoys making breads, bagels, naan, and pita from scratch. 

“Guard, honor, and cherish the family dinner,” she says.