What brought you from South Naples to Seattle's Little Italy?

My husband and I moved to Seattle five years ago, and we were customers of Luigi (the owner) every Monday night. We became friends and eventually I just started working here.

What made you gravitate to DeNunzio's?

The food. It's hard to find good Italian food in Seattle because there aren't many real Italians. There are people whose great-great-great grandfather was from Italy, but no, that does not mean they can cook Italian food. We don't eat spaghetti and meatballs in Italy. We don't have fettuccini Alfredo.

What makes good Italian food?

Everything we use comes from Italy—the pasta, prosciutto, mozzarella—but all the ingredients for good Italian cooking are here in Seattle. It's the recipes that change when they are handed down from person to person. Luigi is Italian. I am Italian. Our cooking is Italian.

What on the menu is comfort foodfor you?

Our homemade gnocchi. Usually, gnocchi is prepared with a red sauce, but we serve it with a bell pepper sauce and kalamata olives.

Any hope for non-Italians who like to cook?

Luigi offers a cooking class once a month, on Wednesdays. The next one is November 29. The cost is $40, and he teaches you how to cook three or four courses, and then you eat!

Interview by Cienna Madrid