The Palumbo family story begins in Castrofilippo, a small hill town in southern Sicily where tradition, agriculture, and family defined daily life. Joanna’s paternal grandfather was a farmer there, working the land with the quiet discipline that has long sustained Sicilian families. His children—including Colegero Palumbo, Joanna’s father, and his sister—were born in Castrofilippo, growing up immersed in the rhythms of the countryside and the deep food culture that comes with it. In the mid-50s, Colegero Palumbo immigrated to the United States, part of the postwar wave of Italians seeking opportunity while carrying their heritage with them. He settled in Brooklyn, where Italian neighborhoods offered familiarity: the language, the food, the sense of community. It was there that old-world traditions met new-world ambition. Later, Colegero met Joanna’s mother, a native Long Islander with Italian roots tracing back to Calabria. Though their families came from different regions of Italy, they shared the same values—hard work, close family ties, and a deep respect for food as a central part of daily life. Together, they built a home grounded in tradition. Joanna was born on Long Island in 1981, growing up surrounded by the flavors and rituals of Italian cooking. Meals were never rushed; they were moments of connection. Recipes were passed down through observation, repetition, and memory rather than written instructions. At twenty-one, Joanna moved to New York City, a turning point that shaped both her personal and creative life. She still resides in Lower Manhattan with her husband and two children, where family life continues to revolve around the kitchen. From Family Table to Creative Platform Food was never just sustenance for Joanna—it was identity, heritage, and storytelling. As she raised her children, cooking remained the constant thread connecting generations. When her children became older, she chose to pursue a long-held dream: turning her love of cooking into a creative and professional pursuit.
Social media became her platform. Through her Instagram page, @SpaghettiRoots_NYC, Joanna combines her passions for photography, videography, food styling, and cooking into one cohesive voice. She creates food reels daily, most often showing what she cooks for her family. Nearly 90% of her content reflects Italian cuisine—dishes she grew up eating, alongside recipes she has developed herself, all rooted in tradition. A defining part of Joanna’s work is ingredient sourcing. She prioritizes the highest quality by shopping at Eataly and Whole Foods Market, while also seeking out small, local Italian vendors that specialize in exceptional, high-quality products. Highlighting these specialty ingredients—often from small producers—is central to her passion and seamlessly woven into her photography, videography, and food styling. For Joanna, celebrating these products is another way of honoring Italian tradition and craftsmanship.