If you want to be comforted in this terrible time in American life, I recommend watching 85-year-old Gina Petitti cook Italian comfort food on her Buon-A-Petitti YouTube channel. These 15- to 35-minute videos are well-produced, but without a lot of slick editing. They are shot almost in real-time, in Grandma Gina’s home in New Jersey, so you get the impression of hanging around the kitchen and watching Grandma cook your favorite dishes — baked ziti, lasagna, baked fish in the Livornese style, fettucine Alfredo, pizza. It’s comfort food without the calories, though you’ll probably get a craving for something Italian (from curbside at a local restaurant) while you watch. Bonus: Grandma Gina sings Italian songs, too. She’s great.

Published by Dan Rodricks

Dan Rodricks is a long-time columnist for The Baltimore Sun, winner of numerous national and regional journalism awards, a radio and TV personality, podcaster and fly angler. His narrative memoir, "Father's Day Creek," was published in May 2019 by Apprentice House at Loyola University Maryland.

26 thoughts on “Need comforting? Watch Grandma Gina cook Italian comfort food”

  2. I found grandma Gina’s site by accident while looking for a recipe. I’m so glad I did. I’m half italian and italian cooking is in my blood. I never got to know my Italian grandmother. Grandma Gina is my grandma by proxy. I could watch her cooking shows all day.
    Dio ti Benedica
    Jim Gunnuscio

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  3. In these turbulent times throughout the world, Grandma Gina is a source of peaceful comfort. I love her and watching her videos is inspirational. I learned to cook via my mother-in-law who made dishes handed down from her Italian m-i-l, and compare and learn from Gina. Buon Appetito!

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  4. She is the absolute best. I leave her videos on throughout the day to keep my 84-yr old mom occupied. As a benefit, I get to watch her as well. My mom enjoys any “dough-related” videos, the Italian singing and intermittent Catholic prayers. Italians and Jordanians are very similar plus, being 1st generation Americans, and New Yorkers, we grew up around our Italian neighbors. We taught them Middle Eastern cooking and they taught us Italian cooking. Both cultures love home-made recipes and cooking, generally. Her kids and grand kids are awesome for helping her make these videos. My favorite is when she eats. “Is-sa good! I gotta eat.” My only excuse for not cooking exactly like her is I don’t have her pasta and canning gadgets. Regardless, I am excited to try her recipes. I know how to make most but I’ve learned a few new ones.

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    2. Amy, I also have Gina’s videos going on throughout the day for my mom!! Gina inspires us to cook more, and to just be a better person. We just love, love everything about her, and yes, the Catholic prayers! I truly related to your comment here from the past summer. My mom had gotten so very depressed just due to age, and Gina has been the magic medicine. I wish Gina was our neighbor so often! Take care.

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  5. Love Gina, cook along with her often, we are about the same age, but I am ‘slowing down! 💕😘🦋

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  6. I am so glad I found you. I was looking for a different way of making Italian sausage and peppers other than my own and came across Gina’s recipe. I’m hooked. I have been watching for hours; oh the pizza- deliziosa! I learned a lot from my Italian grandmom sadly she passed in 2007 at 91, I’m grateful that I was interested in learning her cooking, baking and the hand sewing. Thank you Gina!

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  10. Love her, and have made some of her recipes that have come out great! Kudos to her son in law for a great editing job and for keeping Gina and her treasured recipes for posterity.

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  11. Gina your recipes are the best. Some I had forgotten about. How about doing a cook book?? I would be the first to buy it. You make it look so easy.

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  13. LOVE GINA and her cooking! Authentic. Italian recipes like my husband’s sicilian family, right down to the stuffed artichokes, i have personally prepared several. All available on YouTube channel.

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  15. I found this beautiful lady on YouTube a couple days ago, and I’m hooked! Before my gramma died at 105, I shared a condo with her. Yay was 15 years ago. She taught me her recipes and I treasure them. Gina reminds me of her SO much! We r Italian too. God Bless you Gina. Keep cooking!❤️

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  17. Gina, you are a real treasure. I LOVE ❤️ your recipes..they remind me of my Mother’s cooking simple, rustic Italian cooking. I think we all can tell you love what you are doing.Please keep the recipes coming!! God Bless You🙏

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  19. Thanks Dan for featuring her. What I like most about Grandma Gina is her pride and love for her family and her faith. Not to mention she’s a wonderful giving person, patiently sharing her recipes with the rest of us. So me I bought an eggplant because it was pretty, through lots of pauses & rewinds G Gina helped me cook eggplant parm that my family loved.

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  20. Is there a site where I can print the recipes. I get so engrossed in watching that I for get to get it on paper.

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  21. Mama Gina. It feels like I go to her house and learn more than cooking. She’s captivating. I wondered how many people felt the same about her. I’ve heard you forget what people say but you remember how they made you feel.. she makes me feel like I’m with family.. I’m not Italian but I could listen to her songs or stories anytime. Her songs are the best. She makes me smile everytime she starts to sing. And I definitely love her too. Funny how that works.

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  22. We made your Easter bread and love it. We been searching for a while for a good recipe now we have one.
    Enjoy your English it reminds me of my grandmother. Thank you, Bill & Joyce

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