The 90-Year-Old Italian Grandma Running an Iconic NYC Restaurant | Bon Appétit

Today, Bon Appétit spends the day with Nonna Maria, one of the resident grandma chefs at Enoteca Maria on Staten Island. At 90 years old, Maria has been cooking Italian food longer than most bringing a lifetime of experience and flavor to her dishes. “Enoteca Maria is a place where we invite grandmothers from all over the world in to cook their traditional dishes. Nonna Maria has been working here for about 10 years now, and she lights up the place as soon as she walks in the door. She’s 90 years old and runs around like she’s 16.”
Director: Gunsel Pehlivan
Director of Photography: Luke Riffle
Editor: Misa Qu
Featuring: Maria Gialanella
Director of Culinary Production: Kelly Janke
Creative Producer: Parisa Kosari
Coordinating Producer: Tommy Werner
Line Producer: Joe Buscemi
Associate Producer: Oadhan Lynch
Production Manager: Janine Dispensa
Production Coordinator: Fernando Davila
Camera Operator: Carlos Araujo
Assistant Camera: Tony Aviles
Sound Recordist: Lily Van Leewen
Staff Editorial Consultant: Ryan Harrington
Culinary Researcher & Recipe Editor: Vivian Jao
Post Production Supervisor: Andrea Farr
Post Production Coordinator: Scout Alter
Supervising Editor: Eduardo Araujo
Assistant Editor: Justin Symonds
Filmed on Location at: Enoteca Maria
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[@christiantaylor1109]

she looks amazing for 90

[@felix121984]

Its 2020 not 1980 anymore !

[@NoraLuzCalugas]

NONNA!

[@mygirldarby]

​@felix121984 what does that have to do with anything? In 1980 the same percentage of people lived into their 90's and there were people just like this woman back then too. "Life expectancy" has only gotten longer because infant mortality rates have dropped significantly. Humans have always had the same lifespan, however. It has not lengthened. Plato lived into his 80's.

[@Romafood]

I was fascinated too, extraordinary worker, great passion and love

[@pauljordan4452]

@@mygirldarby You get guys on Sardinia living over 100 and STILL looking after their vineyards.

[@estefanymendoza5490]

What a bright and beautiful personality she has

[@Romafood]

I was fascinated too, extraordinary worker, great passion and love

[@TheJoStephan]

Wow. 90! Most people never even reach that age. It’s her beautiful pure soul that kept her out of negativity and living a long healthy life! So precious!

[@felix121984]

More are living past 90 in recent years than ever ! You must be 30 wear boat shoes with no socks and think your ffeet dont stink !

[@Chaddingway]

How lucky must her family be. Two whole generations of eating like royalty.

[@Jujumimi937]

✨😎𝑁𝑜 𝑆𝑢𝑐ℎ 𝐿𝑢𝑐𝐾 🤯✨☦️𝐴 𝐵𝑙𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑛𝐺~✨👠👵💫🧑🏼‍🍳

[@tbtb1249]

Both of my grandmothers, may they rest in peace, were amazing cooks. I miss them both. *Le nonne sono fantastiche*

[@paidistapleton6208]

I think the next generation of grandmother's will not live up to the same standards

[@pauljordan4452]

Mine too. They taught their kids to cook.

[@pauljakeman]

Protect this lady at all costs! I’d love a grandma or mother in law like her.

[@BigDeeDee90]

She is so adorable but yet such an inspiration, she doesn't 'have' passion, she IS passion! How can I become one of her adopted kids haha Loved this video so much!

[@Bigbadbilly304]

I’m Mexican & love Italians a lot. Great food n culture.

[@bernieappugliese2029]

Italian Grandmas Rock!!!

[@WhyNotSmile74]

No better teacher than a grandma

[@christineconte2245]

She’s doing what feeds her soul and fills her with ❤

[@jo3ywils0n39]

The "Give me a q-tip" line made me chuckle. So wholesome.

[@TheGodYouWishYouKnew]

“You don’t measure?” - never been around an Italian grandma I reckon.

[@toriholliday]

her personality will live on forever

[@1lecher]

I just want to hug her, she's so adorable Lol

[@Oldskoolraver-OG]

Still wears her wedding ring ❤ what a delightful women

[@phronsiekeys]

More grandmas, please!! Food looks amazing and she is wonderful

[@variousJnames]

Proof that when you love what you do....and I mean truly love it, it shows! ❤ She does not even look 90

[@hawkeye9793]

She loves what she does. She works the weekend nights - the busiest nights !!! Everything she makes looks 😋 & made with ❤️ 😍 💖 Sings while cooking, I ❤️ her !

[@kennethcjackson3391]

What a great segment I can feel her love through her food.

[@omegasage777]

She's such a bright and funny lady!! I hope she lives a very long life. Beautiful nonna

[@carolebarlow9984]

Nonna Maria is pure joy❤bless her 🥰

[@Erica_Mc]

This is the epitome of doing what you love! Bless her heart! ❤❤

[@RS-yd2bp]

What a great lady. All italian grandmother's chop vegetables with those little knives. They don't believe in cutting boards. Lol. Love it

[@nautica1504]

thumbs of steel

[@normacoote9856]

Love you Nona… I watch Nono every day. He is still here.❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️🌻🌻🌻

[@rkmugen]

8:41 And this is why i naturally gravitated to Italian cuisine when I had to learn how to cook for myself. Hasn't failed me yet!

[@rca6576]

There are not enough hearts to show how much I love this!

[@pizzadanitza]

I, too, am Maria when I take my first sip of coffee in the morning. This vid was a feast! ☕️

[@MadScientyst]

She is totally, totally AMAZING! What a bubbly, bright & positive personality she has! I'd love to visit & hear some of her stories indeed.....🤩🤩

[@vandavis000]

I adore her. She lights up the room. 😊❤

[@cynthiablagg4507]

She is what LIFE should be

[@Fdux]

Living Legend and beautiful soul Nonna 🙏

[@ConcreteRiver]

what a wonderful gift to the world. 7:58 as a young lady 😭💗

[@danflower999]

Her family is so lucky to have her, wish I had a grandma like her

[@SuperMustache555]

She's so talkative and knowledgable, it's awesome!

[@briancox7875]

I wouldn't just go to this restaurant when the lady is cooking, I'd run there. Love it.

[@bertcertain6982]

I can't even express how much I loved this segment and adored Nonna Maria!

[@junebush8878]

Her love comes through in the way she cooks, sings, and talks ! An inspiration for me ❤️

[@DCFunBud]

Such a wonderful lady! A national treasure. What an inspiration for all aging people.

[@nysavvy9241]

Lovely joyous kind lady. She's remarkable and cooks the real deal.

[@MrHitStick]

this is incredibly wholesome ❤

[@lvbadboy]

This lady has a wonderful spirit

[@BiroBiroAttack]

This video just brightened my day, what an amazing person she is. Thanks for sharing such wonderful story

[@devon_lettuce_tomato8637]

What a beautiful person. Made me cry because she has a wonderful life and radiates it into everyone.

[@jackhunt2850]

We need more people with her personality and joy for life, so beautiful ❤

[@w2sixpackchef]

"No not wine..." LOL these are the cooking experiences that I love! Great job BA!

[@coque9312]

Ella me da tanta vida y alegría como una verdadera abuelita

[@julietphillips1991]

Nonna is so special! Her food looks very appetizing!

[@126Johnj]

Reminds me of my mother. The reason i fell in love with cooking!!!

[@sannayamitra5074]

Made my day Nonna , Thank you

[@sosonolow5094]

As someone who just spent a month in Italy, I guarantee her food is amazing.

[@corgeousgeorge]

The wholesomeness!!!

[@lb8141]

She is so precious 💕 She reminds me of my Nonna Ida. I miss her🥹

[@YOsefFM]

TRULY - “1 in 8 Billion.” PURE L❤VE.

[@rholloway717]

Love how she staying busy !

[@primeminister66]

KZbin is great sometimes, and this is one of the times! I love this lady

[@heather-vs9qe]

Beautiful nonna

[@corgeousgeorge]

"I make everything fresh, see!" *proceeds to unpack a bunch of box pasta . 😆 Werq Nonna!

[@rossrobbins7707]

Omg I love her 🥰

[@ruthmarcano631]

Nonna Maria looks fantastic. You can tell she loves what she does and it keeps her young. And the coffee helps. ♥ ☕ 👍

[@sarahdrake8012]

I could watch this wonderful lady all day! The food looks delicious and Maria is a breath of fresh air

[@user-hh7ii6rk1i]

this is so wholesome omg i got teary eyed bc i miss my grandma so much

[@alohafueled]

What an adorable, precious woman. Beautiful food made with joy and love is the best!

[@verep1653]

Wow! Nona is amazing! So cheerful. So happy! Wish I lived in new york so I could taste her food. Amazing! 🎉❤

[@doloresvasquez5429]

Im just in love with herrrrr. Very very precious 💕💕💕💕

[@kyleyoung4272]

I'm sitting here watching this with my mouth watering and wishing I could try her food. I definitely enjoyed watching this and learning about someone else's life.

[@Karen-n9q]

What a sweet grandma!!

[@eba44]

I want to be adopted by this Nonna Maria. Seriously.

[@mikekeller-j5x]

A true master of her trade. Brings her own tools .......LOVE IT !!!

[@brianmurphy7195]

Grandmothers are just the best ❤ miss mine dearly

[@shaywilliams3358]

She is so beautiful….makes me smile

[@jlpeters8576]

What a treasure! She's a delight to watch and I bet her cooking is amazing.

[@SuperMan-xy8ui]

She's has a lovely personality.

[@Pheminon1]

Why choose to be negative when you can be like Nonna Maria? We should all try to be like Nonna Maria. Make food to see people smile and be happy :)

[@AussieAngeS]

She reminds me of my mother 🥰 my mother speaks just like her with an Italian accent haha. Love her

[@Cark-r1d]

❤ MORE NONNA MARIA PLEASE !! ❤

[@channelflex8792]

How could you not love her?! 😻

[@clarissavaber423]

She is so lovely...what a treat to see her.

[@car-pe-di-em]

Love it how she gives the person a taste of the zuchinia before its done just like all nonnas would

[@AnhNguyen-il5yl]

She is beautiful in every sense of the word ❤

[@shirtshine73blitz]

What a lovely woman.

[@Pizzasalladland]

Wow I just got so hungry. Bless her!

[@Remybrook]

Lovely, I lived in Napoli for 5 years and had meals like this. Food in Italy 🇮🇹 varies by region, sometimes just town to town.

[@genesiabeharry111]

This is wonderful,exciting and full of Love.❤❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@Ericaxv]

She’s so adorable 🥰💖

[@Mysticbladegod]

She is absolutely amazing 🤩

[@dimcheandovski1964]

this is adorable, remind me of my grandma

[@Rosenbones]

I saw a video about this place yeaaaaaaars ago. Im so glad its still open!!

[@mvr617]

Absolutely amazing ❤❤❤ nonna #1🙏💪🇮🇹

[@mrjoker2444]

What a wonderful lady she is 😊

[@WendyHamill]

I adore you Maria!!!!!

[@BubbleGumzKorner]

I like how she just shows up to her part time job with a mission in mind and at no point discussed it with anyone. Do customers just order Nonna's Dinner? Since it's what SHE decides that day?😂

[@jenniferjones1819]

Sign me up! I miss my Nonna ❤️

[@Danae0619]

OMG! She's adorable! I love her so much!

[@bellebeauty67]

You don't measure? "No, I'a measure with my eyes!"-Nonna Maria What a beauty Nonna is!! Love her!! Tonto Toto!

[@Classicrocker6119]

Outstanding! What a special lady!!

[@blance2069]

This made my day❤

[@MMARLZ]

This is the sweetest thing I've ever seen

[@Taxationisstealing]

I could watch her for hours!❤

[@DucaleEfston]

I. Love. This. Woman. What an icon!

[@CaliSunshine209]

Reminds me of my grandma would love to taste her food ik she make food with love