Inspired by the legendary “Nonnas” of Italy, two Ocala grandmothers have teamed up with a veteran producer to serve up family recipes in a new cooking show.
“The Nonnas of Stonecreek” stars local personalities Maggie David and Mary Ellen Saladino, two women who have recreated the “Nonna” concept made famous in Italy and recently popularized by the Netflix film Nonnas.
According to their website, the women met 13 years ago while Mary Ellen was exploring a possible Assisted Living facility for her older brother. As the Director of Nursing, Maggie conducted the tour. The women quickly discovered that they were both Sicilian, from New York, and loved to cook, and a lasting friendship was born. Maggie was also Mary Ellen’s Matron of Honor at her wedding.
Inspired by the movie starring Vince Vaughn, the women say after seeing “The Nonnas” on Netflix, they believed they could do the same thing.
“The Nonnas of Stonecreek” is managed and produced by Joseph Rothenberger, a longtime industry veteran. Aided by assistant Ian Lambert, Rothenberger is a two-time Emmy Winner with decades of experience in production.
The show focuses on the “heart of the home” the kitchen. In one popular segment, the duo invites viewers into Maggie’s kitchen to share a cherished family recipe for spaghetti and meatballs, complete with her signature “gravy” (sauce).
Episodes lean heavily into the chemistry between the two women and their guests, with banter, jokes, and stories of their own families rife throughout the cooking process.
The friendship makes the production feel less like a standard cooking show and more like an afternoon spent with familiar faces.
Some of the show’s segments have been recorded live at local venues. During these live sessions, the “Nonnas” interact with the community while preparing traditional dishes like hearty soups and cannolis, often including the recipes on-screen for viewers to follow at home.
“The Nonnas of Stonecreek” aims to preserve the “made with love” philosophy, proving that viewers don’t need a professional culinary degree to create a world-class meal. Just a few generations of family secrets and a good sense of humor.
You can find “The Nonnas of Stonecreek” on YouTube and online, where the duo continues to share their “loving from the oven” with Ocala and beyond.