The gladiolas are still fresh in my mind, as my grandpa stood among them in his garden in New York. He was happy digging in the dirt, creating beautiful flowers and vegetables. It was his personal sanctuary. An immigrant from Bari, Italy, Grandpa arrived at Ellis Island as a boy more than 100 years ago. He lived with a family acquaintance until he met my grandmother, Laura, and then married.

He was a tailor by trade and made wool suits and coats that could last forever. But he also loved food. Grandpa grew tomatoes, basil and figs. He grew grapes that he crushed into very strong wine for the table. The aroma of cooking and the sweet scents from the garden will forever remain in my memory.