Welcome to our “Get to Know” series! Each Tuesday (for the next year), we’re going to introduce you to a creator in the wellness space that we think you NEED to know. The creators we feature are of various backgrounds. Whether they’re an online content creator, coach, or owner of a product-based brand, they each have their own niche in the wellness world and contribute to the space, as a whole, in an incredibly meaningful way. We’re setting this up Q&A-style so that you can learn more about each creator’s why, the content that they’re most proud of, and exactly how you can be a part of and contribute to their journey. We hope you enjoy our conversations with these wonderful people and brands. We know they’re going to enrich your lives!
This week, we’re interviewing Janine Bruno of Homemade by Bruno. Janine says this about making pasta by hand: “This became an outlet for my creative mind but also allowed me to create delicious meals for friends and family. It connected with my Italian culture and preserving our traditions was extremely therapeutic and important to me.” Follow along as we learn more about Janine:
Why did you start your business?
Janine: Cooking was always a big part of my family life, but I didn’t really start to get into it until several devastating life changing events. Being diagnosed with breast cancer at age 30 was shortly followed by losing both a job that I loved and my long-term relationship. I felt like my whole life was falling apart. I went through unimaginable heartache and felt like I had lost everything, but I found solace in cooking, mainly making pasta by hand( no machines) . This became an outlet for my creative mind but also allowed me to create delicious meals for friends and family. It connected with my Italian culture and preserving our traditions was extremely therapeutic and important to me. It was also incredibly important for me to pay attention to everything that was going into my body and cooking from scratch with whole/fresh ingredients was life changing.
What’s your mission/purpose statement?
Janine: I want to preserve the authenticity of Italian culture with food and traditions while using real ingredients directly from Italy or freshly sourced here. Eating pasta does not have to be an unhealthy option!
What 2 (or 3!) pieces of content are you the proudest of?
Janine:
During Covid I discovered a new passion and talent when I was selected to compete in Gelato Festival America for the best gelato in America! Giada De Laurentiis is the president of the jury for this competition and I ended up winning the first round popular vote. I am moving onto the American finals this summer and currently in the top 6 in the US! If I win, I will move onto the world finals in Italy this fall.
My collaboration with a Thai Restaurant ( I created a special gelato flavor with proceeds going to a local breast cancer charity. (Attaching posts) it was in a lot of local papers and Eater Philly
- https://www.instagram.com/p/COOoRIPj1YJ/?utm_medium=copy_link
- https://www.instagram.com/p/COjUy83jHoW/?utm_medium=copy_link
I was on Fox29 morning show showcasing my virtual pasta boxes!
Where are you going next? What’s your goal for the next year?
Janine: I started a YouTube channel recording in a studio to share all of my recipes with the world and will be starting to film different segments at italian markets all around the country. Early next year I will be traveling to Italy (Sicily mainly) with a camera crew to film a special short series.
I am also still doing gelato collaborations all over Philadelphia/New York city area and both in person pasta parties + virtual pasta classes.
How can we (and the Fed and Fit community) best support you?
Janine: How can the Fed and Fit community of readers best support you (ex. signing up for a newsletter, following you on social, buying a product from you, etc.)? Follow me on IG @homemadebybruno for lots of videos and reels showing quick and delicious recipes, also my YouTube channel with full length recipes. If you’re local, you can book and in person pasta party where you’ll learn how to make pasta all by hand (truly unlike most pasta making classes) and if you’re not local: you can purchase a virtual pasta making kit ( ingredients sourced from Italy) and learn from the comfort of your home! I also specialize in both in person and virtual corporate events for a fun, delicious, and healthy team building activity!
