Anna Boiardi was born in Piacenza, Italy, known for tortelli, Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, prosciutto and pasta e fagioli , just to name a few. Yes, Anna is granddaughter of Mario Boiardi and niece of Hector Boiardi, both Italian immigrants who moved to the US in the early 1900s and began working at the famed Plaza Hotel in NY. Later the brothers co-founded Chef Boy-ar-dee with their older brother Paul Boiardi. Growing up in an Italian family of chefs was bound to have an influence on Anna. She spent many hours in the kitchen with her mother and grandmother learning how to cook.