💌 Special Edition: A Love Letter to My First Love on Father's Day
For My Dad, My Poppy, My Forever Anchor
I don’t even know where to begin.
My dad is everything.
The first person I ever loved. Before I had words, before I understood what love even was—I just knew it was him.
He lost his own father when he was just eight. Sent off to boarding school. He grew up fast, but somehow became the gentlest, most generous man I’ve ever known. He gave us the kind of love he never got, and he did it with humor, grace, and no bitterness. Just a steady heart and open arms.
He’s the reason I’m a chef.
Every Saturday when I was little, while my mom did her thing and my brothers were off with friends, he and I would go to the market together. Just us. It was our ritual. We’d plan dinner, taste our way through the stalls, and choose ingredients with intention. He taught me to notice—to care about ripeness, about origin, about salt and olive oil. Those mornings are etched in me forever. That’s when I first understood that food could be love.
He was born in Calabria, raised in Rome, and came to this country alone. First-generation. No roadmap. No shortcuts. Just pure grit and Italian charisma. He went from playing guitar in a rock band to serving as Vice President of Ferragamo for 26 years. Fashion aficionado, master of the mix, elegance with edge. He built a life with grace, taste, and endless generosity.
And yet, for all that polish, he’s still the guy who stops mid-checkout to ask the cashier,
“What’s goin’ on today, huh?”
in his Italian accent. And just like that, they’re smiling. He can’t not lift the room. He was born with light in him.
And somehow, he's an even better Poppy. Babysitter. Guitar teacher. Style consultant. Snack maker. Hug-giver. He is present in every way that matters. My kids and my brother’s kids adore him—and how could they not?
My mom? She saw him clearly the moment they met. Chose him without hesitation. Even now, 56 years later, and almost 16 years since she passed, you can still feel her smiling down.
She was right.
📊 A Few Things You Might Not Know About Fatherhood:
Children with involved fathers are 39% more likely to earn A’s in school.
They’re also twice as likely to attend college and 75% less likely to have a teen pregnancy.
The CDC has found that emotionally present dads are linked to lower rates of depression, anxiety, and behavioral problems in children.
And yet… 1 in 4 children in the U.S. live without a biological, step, or adoptive father in the home.
Father absence is linked to higher risks of poverty, school dropout, incarceration, and substance abuse.
🥚 From Luigi’s Kitchen: Parmigiano Scrambled Eggs
This dish is pure him—simple, soulful, and exactly right.
Ingredients (serves 2):
4 large eggs
¼ cup Parmigiano Reggiano, finely grated
1 tsp unsalted butter
Olive oil, to finish
Freshly cracked black pepper
Toasted baguette, for serving
Method:
In a bowl, whisk the eggs with the Parmigiano and a pinch of salt until smooth.
Heat a nonstick pan over medium-low. Add the egg mixture.
Stir gently with a rubber spatula, letting the curds form slowly. Don’t rush—this is love.
When still soft and glossy, remove from heat. Fold in the butter.
Spoon over toasted baguette. Add a generous drizzle of olive oil and cracked pepper.
Optional: Eat with someone you love. No phones. Just bites and laughter.
😌 One Last Thing…
My dad has two rules for life:
Keep it more chic than shabby.
And always choose kindness over being right.
He leads with heart. He dresses like every day matters. And he never forgets to make someone feel seen.
Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there.
To the ones who pack lunches, fix bikes, stir sauces, teach chords, and give quiet strength without ever needing credit—today’s for you.
To my dad—Poppy, Luigi, Gigino—thank you.
You taught me how to live, how to love, and how to cook like it matters.
Forever your little girl,
✍️ Nicole