Mary Contini
Née Di Ciacca in Cockenzie, East Lothian, in 1956, Mary Contini embodies the rich legacy of Italian immigration to Scotland. She is the granddaughter of Italian immigrants from I Ciacca, a small hamlet within the village of Picinisco. Her grandparents, Cesidio and Merietta, like many from the Comino Valley, embarked on the journey to Scotland at the turn of the 20th century. Today, Mary co-directs the renowned Edinburgh delicatessen and café Valvona & Crolla with her husband, Philip. Mary proudly defines herself as an Italian Scot, a duality reflected in everything she cooks, eats, and how she speaks. Her culinary style is distinctly Italian yet open to Scottish influences, and she speaks English with a strong Scottish accent while actively learning Italian, driven by a desire to reconnect with her grandparents’ heritage. Her profound passion for Italy and food has also blossomed into a critically acclaimed literary career. Mary’s writing career took off in the early 2000s with the success of her debut book, Dear Francesca, An Italian Journey of Recipes Recounted with Love (2002). This blend of family history and recipes celebrates her Italian roots, and the culinary heritage passed down from her grandmother to her daughters, Francesca and Olivia. The success of Dear Francesca led to Dear Olivia. An Italian Journey of Love and Courage (2006) and Dear Alfonso. An Italian Feast of Love and Laughter (2017), forming a compelling family saga. Dear Olivia traces Mary’s and Philip’s grandparents’ journey from early 20th-century Picinisco to their migration to Scotland, encompassing the tragic events of World War II and the sinking of theArandora Star during WWII. Dear Alfonso celebrates her husband’s family and their roots in Pozzuoli, Naples, along with the love story between Carlo and Olivia, Philip’s parents. Contini’s literary contributions have significantly enriched the Italian Scottish cultural landscape, ensuring the preservation of her family’s history, food traditions, and multilingual heritage for future generations.