Nothing beats Grandma’s cooking. It’s soul-satisfying: delicious food enjoyed in a houseful of family members. And for Mo Rocca, he’ll never forget the Sunday suppers his grandmother used to host, with her ravioli as the centerpiece. Unfortunately, Mo’s grandmother passed away before he was able to learn her ravioli recipe. In fact, Mo can’t really cook at all.
But it’s never too late to learn, and Mo is going straight to the masters: grandmothers and grandfathers. Tune in to My Grandmother’s Ravioli this Sunday at 8pm ET as Mo pulls out all the stops to get grandmothers and grandfathers to share their family recipes.
Better watch the knife, Mo.
Mo’s first stop is New Jersey, where Mila teaches him how to make her Philippine version of paella (complete with a crucial secret ingredient). The dish is the centerpiece of her birthday party, where she gets a surprise visitor.
Mo's ready to give it a try!
Mo meets Pop, an Italian grandfather who learned how to cook after his wife passed away. Pop has a passion for traditional Italian specialties and shares his recipes for Focaccia and Rabbit Cacciatore with Mo.
It’s a delicious hour celebrating the American melting pot of food, family and creating memories. Tune in to My Grandmother’s Ravioli Sunday at 8pm ET.
Recipes From the Show
Who does Mo need to learn from next? Let us know! Simply leave the first name only of the grandmother or grandfather, plus a brief story of their best dish, in the comments below, and Mo could be paying them a visit soon.
You must include your email address in the “Email” field when submitting your comment so we can communicate back with you. (But do not post your email address into the actual body of the comment.)
My parents are both immigrants, and old! My dad makes the sweetest cakes, desserts, and breads, while my mom makes legen…wait for it…dary pierogies, soups, and meats! Plus who doesn't love listen to two old foreigners speak!
My 75 year old Aunt Lena is the matriarch of our family, and she makes incredible homemade fettuccini! I'd tried making it myself a couple times, but it took forever and the results were inconsistent. A couple years ago, when I was visiting from California, I spent an afternoon making pasta with her. I learned so much! Aunt Lena is warm and funny, and would be great fun to watch with Mo. She grew up in Calabria, the only daughter in her family, and she learned everything in the kitchen from my grandma. My favorite part about her method of making pasta is that it involves wine breaks while the dough rests.
Tina, I'd love to meet your Aunt Lena but you didn't leave your email address… so I have no way to get in touch with you. Please email me back at: Realpeoplecastingnyc@gmail.com
We are casting NOW!!!! The new series of MY GRANDMOTHER'S RAVIOLI starts airing in the fall!
Hoda is almost 74 years old and emigrated from Egypt to the US in 1968 with her husband. She spoke pretty good English as she had attended the English high school in Cairo, but her husband Mony didn't. So with $3000 in their pocket they started a new life in Queens, NY, and Mony went to the Burlitz school to learn English and at the same time went to St. John's University to achieve his master's degree in Business. They brought with them a hard work ethic and the recipes from their families in Egypt. They had children late, and their children are taking their time finding their soulmates, so Hoda is not a grandmother yet. But she is like a grandmother to a host of young children in our extended family, and MAN CAN SHE COOK. Have you ever heard of Molokhia? It's basically the traditional Sunday dinner in Egypt, made from good stock and mallow greens, layered with delicious butter-infused rice, roast chicken, onions and toasted pita bread. And like all Sunday dinners, every family eats it slightly different, making their own traditions with it. I live and breath for it, it's my favorite meal! Hoda is my mom, she is amazing and should be on your show – she has great stories, and will feed you till you burst. Tabouli, Falafel, Kobebah, Foul, traditional Rice Pudding, Baklava, Moussaka – you name it!
Dina – Hoda sounds AMAZING. I don't have your email address… Can you email me at: realpeoplecastingnyc@gmail.com so we can talk about the casting?
We are casting NOW!!!! The new series of MY GRANDMOTHER'S RAVIOLI starts airing in the fall!
Barrie just turned 70 this past December and is as sassy as ever. Amazing with all good ol' American foods- fried chicken, pot roast, twice baked potatoes, her most incredible are her home made pies. Flaky crusts topped with just the right amount of cinnamon with fresh raspberries from the garden oozing out of the center! Served warm with ice cream, yum!
Bailey Hillary, I'd love to talk to you about Barrie for the new season of MY GRANDMOTHER'S RAVIOLI! Can you please email me at: realpeoplecastingnyc@gmail.com?
Thanks!!!
My Grandma Eve is a lean mean cooking machine! A whopping 4'11" tall she can cook and serve an Italian meal for 25 (our immediate family) better than anyone I know. It's hard to pick my favorite meal of hers or to know that the one I pick could be possibly shared with the world, but it would have to be her egg plant parmesean. It all starts with her homemade sauce and meatballs. She layers it with breaded eggplant and a very secret ingredient. It's wonderful hot but even better leftover cold. There is nothing like a meal with my sisters, mom and dad, all my aunts and uncles and cousins at my Grandma's dining room table. She keeps our family together with her food and traditions – she is our Matriarch and we love her! Grandma is like a fine wine – aged to perfection!
Kelly, Your Grandma Eve sounds super duper fun. I'd love to learn more about her. We are casting for the first season of MY GRANDMOTHER'S RAVIOLI. I don't have your contact information. Can you please email me at: realpeoplecastingnyc@gmail.com ?
Thanks!
Come meet Grandma Ceily Baby…. She Bakes the best Chocolate Chip biscotti in New Jersey ..Italian Knot cookies … and all the Easter pies too( sweet pie …Pizzagain(meat pie) and of course the beautiful Italian Easter Bread baked with colorful Easter eggs…She is an 80year old italian Grandma and you will be welcolme into her home with open arms!!!1
Laurie, I'd love to come meet Grandma Ceily Baby but I don't have your email address!!! Please email me back at: Realpeoplecastingnyc@gmail.com
We are casting NOW!!!! The new series of MY GRANDMOTHER'S RAVIOLI starts airing in the fall!
My Grandfather Bart’s lobster burger is the best! He spent his life lobstering and cooking on the remote island of Vinalhaven, Maine. The burger combines Vinalhaven’s traditional lobster Newberg with a grilled beef burger.
Sorry, Thought this was going to be a fab idea but NOT when you promote cock fighting as in the segment with Mila. It may be okay in the Philippines but her enthusiasm and the network condoning it has made be a previous viewer. I'm really surprised at you.
Again I post, Does anyoway py attention. Mo Rocca's program is an exact duplicate of my copyrghted series submitted and rejected by Food Network. Look at http://www.the foodtable.com.
I don't have the means to take this to court.
our family friend's 95 year old Sicilian grandma makes us chicken speidini and rabe every time she visits. We took a trip to Palermo with her to visit her family. It was the best vacation ever.
Edward Duffy. Nonny, my wife, grandmother of Teddy and Adele, loves to teach anyone to make her tomato sauce. She taught me, our 2 sons and our 6 yr old grandson. Being Irish, she took me from Chef Boyardee o authentic Italian. Efd@comcast.net. Edward Duffy
Pop was such a wonderful show!!!!! He could have his own show!! I learned to cook from just growing up Italian and learing to love food. Sadly my has dementia and would not be the greatest on your show….I suppose she could still talk you through pizzelles though!!!
Does none hear me. I created this idea that I submitted to Food Network,'
Look at the origianal, pure program . http://www.cometomyhouse.tv
Does none hear me. I created this idea that I submitted to Food Network,'
Look at the origianal, pure program . http://www.cometomyhouse.tv
My Grandmother Nonna Maria makes the best rice balls (arancini) ever by hand while the rice is still hot. She also makes the most fantastic fig cookies every year for Christmas. I would love to have you pay her a visit.
My Grandmother "NonnaMa" is an extraordinarily gentile friendly and super OCD organized Italian woman. She came here after she married our "Nonnodad" in Italy. We have the BEST tomato sauce "homemade" production center in New Jersey happenning this August. I think her tomato sauce jarring production is totally worth a trip to the Garden State in August by Mo. My grandparents are Great friends with another guest on your show "Pop" (from the My Grandmother's Ravioli show). Pop and my grandmother have made sauce together for the past couple of years, along with a number of other aunts, my mom and even my spirited Great-Grandmother "NonnaMimma" (who is "the Boss"). I am sure the show would love a guest appearance from the well received grandpa such as "pop". It is a joy to watch the entire family get involved and it becomes a party rather then work. I think it is an awesome idea for an August episode. I hope you choose my Grandma for your show.
My grandmother, Elvira (yes, Elvira, but in Italian it sounds so much nicer!) moved from Italy (where she lived in Sicily, then Rome) in 1989. She is 91 years old and can still cook the most amazing meals! My dad (her son) lives right around the corner from here, and her three grandkids (including me) and 6 (soon to be 7) great-grandkids all live in the same city as she does, so we get to eat her cooking often! She makes the most amazing arancini, which she does in the shapes of pyramids instead of balls, her cannelloni is to die for, as are her spiedini… the list could go on and on. To top it off, she makes her own homemade liquors in a variety of flavors and they are amazing! She should definitely be on this show … I saw it the other day when "Pop" was on, and knew she would be terrific on it, plus her recipes could finally be shared with others – and they will be glad to learn them!
Marguerite a resident in our community, has a favorite recipe ,Pork Roast Alsace Lorraine which she learn from her father. He was born in Alsace Lorraine France and became an accomplished chef through the cooking lessons he received from his Aunt. When he arrived in America he had chef positions in Chicago, California and New York restaurants. He was shocked to learn his new wife thought left-overs was something to serve for dinner and immediately agreed to teach her how to cook for 1 year. She also ended up working in the restaurant business with him. Marguerite was the only one of their children that took a shine to cooking. Through questions and watching her parents, Marge was able to amplify her culinary skills and practice her love for cooking. She married, had 1 daughter and the family settled in Vermont. While there she was asked to teach Cooking/Culinary Arts at the Burlington Area Vocational Technical Center and did so for 25 years. Her favorite dinner is Pork Roast Alsace Lorraine which is complete when served with sweet potatoes and sauerkraut. She wishes all "Happy Cooking!"
My parents, 82 years young, are grandparents to 7 and great-grandparents to 3. Bruno's biscotti is famous for his secret ingredients (hint: anything alcoholic) and Loretta's veal scallopine (made with pork!) is delectable. They would not only show you how to cook both these specialities but put on quite a show, which our family calls "The Bruno and Loretta Show".
Sam or Papa as the grandchildren and great grandchildren call him is 78 years old, retired fireman, raised by his grandmother who came to the U.S. from a small town in Italy called Vieste. She was a wonderful woman that taught him not only to cook wonderful peasant dishes but also how to be a good person.
He has many recipes but the one recipe we all love and get at special times of the year is called "ah-zem" (not sure how to spell it or what it means) but it is a pasta/dough/polenta that is put in the traditional wedding soup.We all crave it and love it and whenever it is introduced to friends they fall in love with it as i'm sure Mo would as well.
Sam/Papa's passion in life is to feed people, from the days in the fire department to raising 6 kids, to cooking at the Church it brings him great pleasure. Mo…i think you'd enjoy his company and i know he'll teach you how to cook…he's taught us all!!
So come to Portland Maine and break bread with us.
Hey Mo! I am a grandfather of two grandsons. My mothert-in-law be fore she died entrusted me with her gefilte fish recipe which she brought with her from Poland after the holocaust. I would love to show you how its made.
Lorraine is a Northerner who moved to a farm down South many, many years ago to raise a family. Fittingly, her meals are a smorgasbord of East Coast fare, traditional Southern food, and French family recipes. Despite getting well up there in age, she prepares Sunday meals for a rotating cast of kids, grandkids, great-grandkids, and friends well into the double digits — some of them (like myself) travelling over an hour and a half to get a seat at the table. Since coming down with diabetes, she has been experimenting with turning some of her traditional dishes into healthier fare.. but they're still just as tasty!
Hey everyone!!! We are casting for the new season! Some of you didn't leave us contact information. Please email us at: realpeoplecastingnyc@gmail.com
- SO we can meet your fantastic grandparents!
Like!
test