I am 30-something from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. My family background is Italian, although I was born in Toronto.

During the day I’m a writer/coordinator and by night I’m a baker/blogger and DKer. (Go DK!). Baking, travelling, reading and hockey are among my biggest passions, although I’m also learning to love gardening and photography.

How long have you been a Daring Baker/Daring Cook and what’s your favorite thing about being in the group(s) so far?

I am original, baby!!! I’ve been a Dker before there was a DK and I was a DBer before there was a DB. I’m half of the Lisa/Ivonne team dating back to November 2006 (where has the time gone?!).

What’s your favorite kitchen gadget? How about your favorite kitchen appliance?

Favourite gadget is my zester and favourite appliance is my KitchenAid mixer.

Are you known for making a certain dish or dessert? If so, what is it?

Not really known for my cooking. I’m known more for my baking. There really isn’t one dessert that I’m known for altough I am often asked for my coconut cake, among other things.

Is there any recipe and/or technique that we haven’t covered yet that you’d really like to make/learn?

I would love to make a trifle in a DB challenge (including all the various components) and I would love to make a cassoulet for a DC challenge.

Do you have a favorite movie? Book? Genre of music? Actor? Actress?

I have many favourite movies … too many to list here. Same for favourite books. I like all sorts of music. I’m a fan of Clooney, Winslet, Streep and lots of others.

You’ve just won $5000.00!!! What would you spend it on?

Updating our kitchen.

What is the ultimate comfort food to you?

Anything my mother cooks.

Which season (Winter, Summer, Spring, Fall) is your favorite.. why?

Fall because of the beautiful colours and the lovely harvest.

Other than cooking and/or baking.. what hobbies do you enjoy?

Love reading, watching hockey, walking, buying cookbooks and travelling.

How long have you been blogging? Do you like it? What’s your favorite post you’ve written?

I’ve been blogging since December 2005. I love blogging although I don’t have as much time to dedicate to it as I used to. I don’t have a favourite post, generally, I enjoy all my posts.

What’s your favorite cookbook for desserts/baking? What’s your favorite cookbook for savory/cooking?

I don’t have one favourite baking b ook althought I would find it difficult to part with Tish Boyle’s “The Cake Book”. Same goes for savoury cookbooks. I’d have a hard time giving up my Ina Garten books.

Is there one food that you seriously dislike/hate? If so, which is it and why?

I have really tried to like tripe but the texture is just a bit too much for me.

What’s your favorite flower and/or plant?

Sweet pea.

Do you have a favorite local restaurant? If so, why is it your favorite and what kind of food is served there?

I don’t have a favourite. Toronto has quite a few good restaurants although not as many as other cities like New York. I love Terroni for pizza and I’d go to L’Unita’ any night of the week for it’s casual but completely authentic and beautifulItalian food.

Who taught you how to cook and/or bake?

My mom, my grandmothers and my aunts.

What’s your favorite holiday and why?

Christmas followed closely by Thanksgiving. I love Christmas for it’s grandeur and light and because you can just bake forever. I wish I would take time to enjoy it more. I love Thanksgiving because there’s no pressure. Just a big ol’ turkey and lots of pumpkin pie!

Reading any good books lately? Which ones?!

Working on “My Life in France” and “March”.

You’ve had a rough week. How do you relax after a rough week?

I read my cookbooks.

Where is your favorite vacation (holiday) destination?

My little house in the hills outside of Ascoli, Piceno in Le Marche, Italy.

What is your favorite cooking/food related magazine? Why?

Fine Cooking, Food & Wine and Donna Hay (but I love all the rest too). Great recipes and great photos.

Do you have a food addiction?

Yes … to pretty much everything especially chocolate.

What did you eat for dinner last night? Did you prepare it or someone else?

Bad takeout Chinese food (I was at work and we had to stay late).

What’s your guilty pleasure?

I have no guilty pleasures. I enjoy them all.

What kind of colors do you like? Pastels? Earth tones? Brights? Neons? Etc.

I don’t know … I think I like softer colours than bolder ones.

If you had the choice of a free kitchen, bathroom, living room or bedroom makeover – which would you choose and why?

Kitchen.

The Martha – Angel of Domestication or Minion of Evil? Why?

Somewhere in between. I admire her abilities and determination but sometimes her recipes don’t turn out very well.

Do you watch any competitive cooking shows? Like Top Chef or Hell’s Kitchen? If so, which is your favorite and why?

No. I hate almost all of those stupid shows although I admit I will occasionally watch Top Chef. I think they’re unrealistic, boring, formulaic and useless. They don’t teach you anything.

What’s your favorite “sweet” spice? How about your favorite “savory” spice?

Cinnamon. Fennel.

If you could eat in any celebrity chef’s restaurant which restaurant would it be, and which chef owns it?

Meh. I’d rather have dinner with Nigella Lawson.

What’s your favorite herb to cook or bake with? Do you prefer fresh or
dried?

Basil. Fresh.

Do you have a time saving kitchen tip you’d like to share with us?

Bake first. Wash later.

You can visit Ivonne on her blog Creampuffs in Venice