About Elena Davis
I’m Elena, an Italian-born food blogger, recipe developer, and storyteller passionate about teaching others how to create simple, flavorful meals. You’ll be surprised at how good-for-you Italian food is when made the authentic Italian way.
Raised in Italy and the U.S.A., I grew up in a home where food was love, and every meal was a chance to connect. Now, as a wife and mother of three, I understand the rhythm of busy lives and how important it is to have delicious, approachable recipes that fit into the pulse of everyday life. On busy nights, I love to make Authentic Carbonara. On weekends, I whip up a batch of Minestrone Soup and freeze it in portions for the following weeks. Every meal is “made with amore (love),” as I like to say in my social media posts.
Roots in Sardegna
Elena’s Story
I was born in Sardegna, Italy—home of my mother’s family, and moved to Salt Lake City, Utah, in elementary school. I moved to the United States without knowing any English or anything about the culture. It was a complete shock, but I adapted quickly. I attribute parts of my resilient personality to learning to adapt to different situations as a child.
My parents had demanding careers, yet they always managed to make delicious home-cooked meals on weeknights. This was an integral part of my childhood. As I grew older and moved out of their home, I carried this part of me wherever I went. I cooked and baked and made many memories and new friends by bringing people together with our family recipes.
I always kept a deep-rooted connection to my Italian family, and I spent every summer of my childhood and young adult life on the beaches of Sardegna with my grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and other relatives.
Our family table in our Sardinian beach home
me making my Nonna’s Italian polpette- The best Italian Meatballs
Italian Food, Culture, and Stories
In Italy, food and culture are the threads of life.
Food is tradition, family, laughter, joy, memories, and a love language that binds generations.
As I fondly remember, it was a place where groups of grandmothers gathered, plotting their next meals and comparing recipes and methods to determine whose Italian meatballs (polpette) were the best.
This is where I developed my passion for cooking, baking, and, most of all, sharing food around tables of new acquaintances, old friends, and family.
Learning from my Nonna Laura
I stood over the shoulders of family members cooking in the kitchen… and watched, smelled, tasted, felt, and listened—but, rarely, if ever, did I see a recipe. When asking about a recipe, my nonna often said, “non lo so? un po di questo e un pizzico di quelo. Ti devo fare vedere.” — I don’t know. A few favorite recipes I learned from my nonna: Pear Cake, Ragu Meat Sauce, Sugo al Pomodoro, and Italian Stuffed Peppers. I hope you love them as much as we do!
From Teaching High School to Food Blogging
Teaching a cooking class With My Mamma
my three beautiful children and loving husband
Before working full-time on my food blog, I taught in public education for 13 years and acquired a master’s degree in reading education. I left my teaching career to serve people by sharing my cooking and baking knowledge.
I started my food blog in the summer of 2020 when we could not visit Italy or see our family. I poured my heart and longing for my Italian home into creating achievable recipes every person could recreate!
I enjoy hiking and traveling—including yearly trips to Sardegna to visit family. I live in Bountiful, Utah, with three beautiful children and a loving husband.
Elena Davis
Quick Facts
- Expertise: Authentic Italian recipe development, Mediterranean home cooking, food storytelling, and digital content creation rooted in family tradition.
- Experience: Over two decades of recipe creation and storytelling (before I actually started a blog!) inspired by my Italian upbringing and family table. Founder of CucinaByElena, where 1 million home cooks turn each month for reliable, approachable recipes made with simple ingredients.
- Education: Bachelor’s degree and Master’s Degree in English, Teaching, and Reading Specialist K-12, with a background that blends business, communication, and creative work.
- Career Background: Professional experience teaching education before launching CucinaByElena, bringing a strategic and reader-first approach to food content and recipe development. Teaching Italian cooking classes
- Location: Based in Utah, with deep roots in Italy and frequent time spent cooking and gathering with family in Sardegna.
- Family: I live with my husband and our three children, who are my favorite taste testers and the heart behind so many of the recipes I share.
- Other Ventures: Creator of digital e-cookbooks, seasonal meal plans, and educational resources designed to help home cooks feel confident bringing Italian food to their own tables.
- I always kept a deep-rooted connection to my Italian family, and I spent every summer of my childhood and young adult life on the beaches of Sardegna with my grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and other relatives.
Contact
Please feel free to contact me! Email: cucinabyelena@gmail.com
I’m so grateful you’re here, and I hope my recipes bring warmth and inspiration to your kitchen. Thank you for being part of this community. Now, let’s cook something delicious together! I like to say “Mangia!” at the end of all my recipes, which is Italian for “Eat!”.
P.S. Follow me on Instagram for more behind-the-scenes of my life, cooking tips, and complete recipe videos!
