Margie RaimondoChef Margie Raimondo's roots in her culinary career were planted at a young age. Both parents' families immigrated from Italy to an urban community in south Los Angeles, where most of the sources of their food were the rabbits and chickens they raise and the vegetables they grew in the yard of their urban house. As an adult, she always planted a seasonal garden with herbs and vegetables for her kitchen. In 2014 after a 20-year marketing career in Silicon Valley, she moved to Italy to broaden her culinary skills by living on farms and learning more about farming, food preservation and production. When she returned home to Little Rock, she planted her first seeds at Urbana Farmstead, a one-acre urban farm that grows seasonal vegetables, fruits, and herbs to sell in her market and to make fresh, prepared meals and preserves. Her menu is inspired by the ever-changing seasons which gives her healthy and nutrient-dense whole food to transform into delicious food. Urbana Farmstead Market is more than a market for farm produce. It offers specialty foods from Italy and other artisan producers, extra virgin olive oils, and freshly baked bread. Visiting Urbana Farmstead is reminiscent of Chef Margie's childhood days, filled with artisanal ingredients, seasonal farmer's market produce and authentic Italian hospitality. When she is not in the kitchen or the garden, she writes about the intersection of food, agriculture and farming. Her genre is heritage food and farm storytelling through film and cookbooks. Read More Read Less