Picture an American chef who traded her bustling life for love, Italy, and a pen—meet Marlena de Blasi! This bestselling author of memoirs, cookbooks, and fiction whisks readers away with her lush tales of Italian romance, cuisine, and culture, starting with her iconic A Thousand Days in Venice. Her evocative prose and zest for life’s simple pleasures make her stories as irresistible as a warm Tuscan sunset.
From her whirlwind romance with a Venetian banker to her adventures in ancient Umbrian hill towns, de Blasi’s work captures the magic of starting anew. Her books aren’t just stories—they’re invitations to savor la dolce vita, sprinkled with recipes and heartfelt reflections.
The Making of Marlena de Blasi
Born in Schenectady, New York, Marlena de Blasi carved her early path as a chef, journalist, and restaurant critic. With a B.A. from the State University of New York at Albany and graduate studies at NYU, she honed a sharp eye for detail and a passion for food’s sensual beauty. Her career took her from radio gigs to PBS cooking shows, where she celebrated raw ingredients’ allure. But it was a trip to Venice that changed everything, sparking a love story and a new chapter as an author.
Marlena de Blasi’s Unforgettable Stories
De Blasi’s breakout memoir, A Thousand Days in Venice (2002), chronicles her impulsive move to Venice after falling for Fernando, a Venetian banker who proposed despite their language barrier. With vivid descriptions of canal-side cafes and mouthwatering dishes, it’s a love letter to both a man and a city. Critics praised its heartfelt vulnerability, blending romance with culinary delights.
She followed with A Thousand Days in Tuscany (2004), a bittersweet tale of renovating a Tuscan farmhouse amid olive groves and village feasts. Recipes punctuate its pages, reflecting de Blasi’s knack for weaving food into storytelling. Her fiction debut, Amandine (2010), set in pre-WWII Europe, traces an orphan’s quest for identity, showcasing her shift to poignant historical drama. That Summer in Sicily (2008) dives into a Sicilian love story, blending grandeur and heartbreak with de Blasi’s signature sensory prose.
Her style—lush, reflective, and intimate—merges travelogue, memoir, and cookbook elements. Themes of love, reinvention, and cultural immersion resonate, inviting readers to taste Italy’s soul through her words.
Why Marlena de Blasi Matters
Marlena de Blasi’s work transcends genres, blending food, travel, and romance into a celebration of life’s fleeting joys. Her memoirs inspire readers to embrace change, whether it’s a new country or a new love. By sharing Italy’s lesser-known corners—like Umbria’s hill towns or Sicily’s rugged mountains—she’s brought global attention to its rich traditions. Her cookbooks, like Regional Foods of Northern Italy, preserve culinary heritage, earning accolades like a James Beard Foundation Award finalist nod.
Today, living in Orvieto with Fernando, de Blasi continues to write and lead gastronomic tours, her legacy one of courage and curiosity. She reminds us that life’s richest flavors come from daring to follow the heart.
- Born: 1952, Schenectady, New York
- Key Works: A Thousand Days in Venice, A Thousand Days in Tuscany, Amandine, That Summer in Sicily
- Notable Achievement: Regional Foods of Northern Italy, James Beard Foundation Award finalist
- Current Home: Orvieto, Italy
About Marlena de Blasi
Ready to fall in love with Italy? Snag A Thousand Days in Venice and let Marlena de Blasi’s romantic, food-filled world sweep you away!