Mary Ann Esposito
Authenticity, history, tradition: three tenets of Mary Ann Esposito and her cooking that have made her one of America's best-known and most loved television chefs.  Her PBS cooking series, Ciao Italia, is in its 18th year of broadcast and is the longest-running cooking series on television. Broadcast nationally and internationally, Mary Ann is as renowned for her knowledge of traditional Italian cuisine as her warm, encouraging approach to instructing her audience-of-all-ages.

And after 18 years, Mary Ann has been recognized by countless organizations for her efforts to preserve the traditions surrounding Italian food and culture, and has become the doyenne of PBS.

Mary Ann’s television experience spans beyond PBS: she has appeared on the TODAY show, Regis and Kelly, QVC, the Food Network, RAI International (Italian television), and many others. Her honors from the U.S. Italian-American community include those from the Sons of Italy and Ladies’ Lodge of the Sons of Italy, and Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). Mary Ann was awarded the Woman of the Year Award by La Festa della Donna, and she received the National Organization of Italian American Women Award.  She is also a council member for the National Italian-American Foundation.

In addition to producing Ciao Italia and making nationwide appearances, Mary Ann has written nine cookbooks, with a tenth underway in fall 2007.