Author Description

There is a Sicilian saying for just about every irony in life, and Sicilian immigrant Giovanni Lo Coco kept those dictums at the ready. They were pearls of wisdom for his daughter Suzanne as she strived to step into her father's big shoes in the family restaurant business, and she used them as touchstones for each chapter of her memoir, Secret Dough.Suzanne's father and mentor, a gregarious and spirited immigrant chef, is a prominent character and culinary influence, who colors all aspects of this lively story. Suzanne was raised on a diet of Lo Coco's pizza, Sicilian drama, and all the intrigue that a clash of cultures, personalities, and stepparents could dish out. Throughout this true coming-of-age story, Lo Coco's is the center of Suzanne's world through relationships and romances as she emerges into the adulthood. While following her mentor, she witnesses this resilient man stand up to those who would prejudge him wrongly as a gullible immigrant just as she herself must push back as a female operating in a male-dominated industry. This intimate saga follows Suzanne's life through a series of self-defining moments, which includes a tumultuous marriage and divorce.Suzanne Lo Coco leads her readers on an often-delicious adventure with unique dinners out, and off to Sicily, where Suzanne is introduced to the full flavor of Sicilian traditions, ancient and modern, as she learns worldly ways via food, men, and the marketplace. Through several chewy twists and turns, the reader meets villains, like the one who tries to steal Giovanni's secret dough recipe or the Scientologists who suddenly become the new landlords.Recipes and photos included. Word count, excluding recipes: 78,180.