Ciao Bella!

First and foremost, grazie mille for joining me on this journey! I'm Bilena, a proud New Yorker immersed in a world of taste and tradition. Raised by my Eritrean/Ethiopian mother, Leah, and Sicilian father, Nino, I've inherited a deep love for hospitality, travel, and great food.

My parents both immigrated to NYC in the '70s and eventually met at my dad’s first bakery in the West Village. They didn’t hit it off until my dad’s car broke down, giving him the courage to finally talk to her. Long story short, they created Settepani Bakery & Restaurant, where I now work as a pastry chef.

From an early age, I helped out in our bakery, sneaking moments to fill cannolis if I finished my homework. Life took me through college and into the workforce until the pandemic threatened to shutter our beloved establishment. That’s when I knew I had to return, not just for the bakery, but to preserve a piece of my family's history.

As a kid, we spent every summer in Italy, fully immersing in the culture, food, and family. Picture sun-kissed cobblestone streets, the symphony of Italian life, and the irresistible allure of local delicacies. Those experiences ignited a fire within me that still burns bright today.

La Dolce, Bilena is about sharing travel tips, recipes, and curated gift guides to bring Italy a little closer to you. I want to cultivate a community united by a shared passion for Italian cuisine, tradition, and wanderlust.

Benvenuti! Welcome to my virtual diary, a space to dream of everything delicious and the sweet life. Let's do this together, for the love of good food and good times!

Baci,
Bilena 💋