Carmela Hayes

Carmela Sophia Sereno (Hayes) of Italian descent, born in Bedford, known as Little Italy, and raised on a small farm in the North Bedfordshire village of Yelden. Her family, however, are all from the regions of both Puglia where the beautiful cone-shaped Trulli stone houses can be found and Molise which is still very much an undiscovered region in the South of Italy. Present-day Carmela lives happily in a small Northamptonshire village with her four children and husband.

Sharing her love of Italian food, Carmela is an Italian cookery author (of 4 books), food writer, she writes a fortnightly food column for her local newspaper ‘The Chronicle & Echo’, cookery tutor, demonstrator, cookery event planner, recipe developer and runs incredibly successful fortnightly supper clubs sponsored by Filippo Berio Olive Oil. Her passion for Italian food and drink culture is paramount in everything she does. Carmela’s latest cookery book ‘Northern & Central Italian Family Cooking’ takes the reader on a culinary journey of discovery, hopefully bringing to your family table unknown and less familiar dishes. ‘A Passion for Pasta’, her second book is a celebration of regional pasta dishes. If you love pasta, then fall in love with the simplicity of Carmela’s passion for pasta in words and pictures. She also has a beautiful first cookery book which focuses mainly on the South of Italy and ‘Cucina Povera’ style cooking. Southern Italian Family Cooking, was a labour of love, showcasing the best of the South of Italy. During the lockdown, Carmela also released an online book teaching basic pasta techniques and recipes, with ‘Pasta Fresca her next book due for release May 2021.  For further information please see www.carmelas-kitchen.com