I’ve been searching for my ancestral seeds, and in the process I may have found some of my relatives who farm and make our traditional foods. Today at the Union Square Greenmarket, I finally met Dot DeMarco and Pat Silvati of Salento Farm in Shelton, Connecticut. Dot’s grandparents came from the small village of Salento, Italy (south of Salerno in the Campagna mountains) to live in Shelton and work in the textile factories at the turn of the century. This is the exact same story of my great great grandparents (Vinchenzo Lauriello and Angelina DeMarco) who brought their young daughter (my grandma Rose) from the same village, to the same small town across the ocean, and worked in the same industry, with the same family name. Dot sent me home with her grandma’s Pickled Eggplant, Eggplant Caponata, Roasted Garlic Banchetto, and many other Italian treats - all grown and prepared on their farm. Her 99-year-old aunt (whose birthday is coming up!) remembers the Lauriello family of Shelton, so hopefully we will learn more soon. Meanwhile, I am excited about the connection and to try these recipes with my Italian eggplants, basils, tomatoes, and garlics this season. If you have seeds or recipes from the Campagna region or the Apulia region (where my great grandfather is from), please let me know! #salentofarm #salentoitaly #campagna #salerno #italianfood #seedkeeping #ancestralfood (at Union Square Greenmarket)