ProudItalianCook.Blogspot.com

Name of blog: Proud Italian Cook

Real name: Marie Renello

Start date: August 2007

Your life story in a URL: FeedYourPassion.com

Why do you blog? My passion has always been cooking and the world of blogging has been my creative outlet for this little hobby turned obsession!

What topic gets people going on your blog? I can’t say there’s one specific topic, because the subject of food in general is a very personal thing and stirs up many emotions along with fond memories that people have of special traditions and events in their lives.

It could be a post about something as time consuming as making 300 homemade raviolis that will stir up conversations, or something as simple as a dessert/drink I recently posted about called “Affogato,” which simply is hot espresso poured over cold gelato. I was amazed at all the comments that came from that post, from people literally all over the world.

Sometimes it might even be a photo, or a certain ingredient that I used, or even a special pot or pan, that revs up a topic for conversation.

What’s your favorite local blog that nobody has heard of? Coco Cooks -- A ChiTown food blogger who’s a creative cook, baker, cake decorator and, an all around interesting person.

What have you learned from blogging? Besides a whole lot of tech-y stuff, I’ve learned how blogging connects you with so many wonderful and interesting people with various nationalities, customs and backgrounds. On any given day I could be talking to people in several different countries. I can truly say I have made friends all over the world and I’m always learning new things from them, which in turn has truly fed my passion for cooking and blogging. And as an unexpected bonus, I’ve come to know the “people behind the blogs.”