Our Guest Maestri
Cristina Lunardini – “Zia Cri”
Cristina Lunardini, widely known as Zia Cri, is an Italian chef and culinary personality celebrated for her passionate storytelling of Italy’s regional cuisine. Through television, public appearances, and culinary events, she has become a respected voice in preserving and sharing the traditions of Italian home cooking. Zia Cri’s approach combines deep respect for regional ingredients with the warmth and conviviality that define Italian food culture. Known for her engaging teaching style and authentic recipes, she brings traditional dishes to life for a broad audience while highlighting the cultural context behind them. At Il Maestro del Gusto – Masters of Taste, she represents the living narrative of Italian gastronomy, where culinary knowledge is passed from kitchen to kitchen and generation to generation.
Angela Matarrese – “Mamma Angela”
Angela Matarrese, affectionately known as Mamma Angela, is the heart and culinary soul behind Trattoria A’Muntagnola in Berlin, a restaurant founded with her son Pino Bianco in 1991. Originally from Basilicata, she has spent decades preserving and sharing the traditional flavours of Lucania with the German capital. Even in her nineties, Nonna Angela continues to prepare fresh pasta by hand, embodying the enduring spirit of Italian home cooking. Under her guidance, A’Muntagnola has become both a cultural ambassador for Basilicata and a gathering place for Italians and Berliners alike. In 2025, she received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the True Italian Awards in Berlin, recognising her lifelong dedication to culinary heritage and hospitality.