Laura Pensiero has a deep, personal connection to the Mediterranean diet, having spent time living in Italy, where she ran a trattoria and immersed herself in the region’s food culture. During this time, she gained firsthand experience in preparing and celebrating Mediterranean flavors with an emphasis on fresh, seasonal ingredients. At her company of two decades, Gigi Hudson Valley (Trattoria and Catering), she has incorporated these principles into every dish, using the Mediterranean diet as a foundation for healthy, flavorful meals. From 2006 to 2014, she owned and operated Gigi Market on a 500-acre farm in Red Hook, NY. This site featured the freshest ingredients from local farms and food artisans, Gigi-branded products, a bakery, café, and weekend agriturismo.
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Her expertise in this area is reflected in her cookbook, Hudson Valley Mediterranean, which not only shares her passion for this lifestyle and its health benefits but also represents her commitment to supporting local farmers and food artisans. The cookbook highlights the flexibility of the Mediterranean diet, showcasing how it can be adapted to different regions while maintaining its core principles.
