David Rocco, star of “David Rocco’s Dolce Vita”, is one of Canada’s favorite television food and lifestyle hosts. The show can be seen on The Food Network Canada, and, in an Italian language version, on TLN Telelatino.

The Toronto born and raised Rocco isn’t just the host. He and his wife and business partner Nina, who also appears in the series, created, and produce the series through their company Rockhead Entertainment. They oversee every single aspect of the show from planning each episode through to the editing process and final delivery to the networks!

“David Rocco’s Dolce Vita” is a unique show. It provides the viewer with accessible and delicious classic Italian food, focusing on fresh and seasonal ingredients and techniques that any home chef can master, along with a taste of the Italian lifestyle. The show is shot on location in Florence, Italy and the surrounding Tuscan countryside.

Rocco is the youngest of three children born to Neapolitan parents who immigrated to Canada in the fifties. The elder Rocco’s raised their children with a strong sense of Italian traditions that emphasize family and food. As is the custom in Italy, mealtimes were special. Rocco says his lifelong passion for food was formed in his mother’s kitchen.

During his school years, David took up acting and modeling which allowed him to travel internationally while earning his degree in economics at York University. But after graduation, it was the kitchen, not Bay Street, that called him. He and Nina opened up “La Madonnina” in Toronto. The pizza / pasta / wine bar served up authentic casual Italian dishes. After 2 years running the successful operation, the couple decided to change course, and merge their mutual passion for cooking and all things Italian with David’s natural abilities in front of the camera.

The neophyte producers managed to do something that even experienced industry veterans will tell you is tough: they sold their first television series, a 26 episode travel and cooking extravaganza shot all around Italy. ‘Avventura: Journeys in Italian Cuisine’, was a hit and spawned David’s first cookbook. The show is currently syndicated in 40 countries in 6 different languages.

With that under their belts, the Roccos decided to move forward and create a brand new series rooted in the Italian attitude and passion for food and life that reflected their own personal sense of style.

Catch the new season of “David Rocco’s Dolce Vita” Mondays at 4:30pm PT beginning August 31 on Food Network. For more about the show click here.

Ned Bell is one of Canada’s foremost culinary talents. Born in the Okanagan, British Columbia’s wine country, Bell has always had a passion for cooking and is steadfast in his vision and drive to create new, imaginative dishes with fresh, local ingredients.

Bell began his career in Vancouver working under two local restaurant legends: first under the tutelage of Le Crocodile’s Michel Jacob and then as Sous Chef for Rob Feenie’s Lumiere restaurant.

In 1997 Bell set his sights eastward where he enjoyed successful stints as Executive Chef at Niagara on the Lake’s Peninsula Ridge Estate Winery, and at Toronto’s Accolade and Senses restaurants where he earned significant recognition by the city’s culinary cognoscenti. During his time in Toronto, Bell was a regular on Food Network Canada’s “Cook Like a Chef.”

Ready to make his mark on the up-and-coming Calgary restaurant scene, the new millennium saw Bell moving west to cook up a storm at Murrieta’s Grill in Calgary, where his list of accomplishments included winning Where Magazine’s Rising Star and Best Overall awards.

Wanting to get further engaged in the business side of restaurants, Bell joined the team at Vintage Chophouse and Red Water Grille as Corporate Chef where his passion, knowledge, creativity and focus turned the restaurants into two of Calgary’s most exciting culinary locales.

The vibrant, young chef is thrilled to return to his roots where he is excitedly living his dream of being both Executive Chef and an owner at Cabana Bar and Grille in Kelowna, BC.

Bell’s talent and charisma continue to propel him forward. Since opening Cabana Bar and Grille, Bell has begun filming “It’s Just Food” for CTV, and has been voted one of Western Living’s Top 40 Foodies Under 40.

Bell will also be going for the top prize against some of Vancouver’s most dynamic chefs in Vancouver’s invitation-only Gold Medal Plates cooking competition and Olympic fundraiser this November and is lending his good taste to Vancouver Cooks 2.0--a coveted collection of recipes from Vancouver’s best chefs.

For over 100 years, home canning has been an exclusive focus for Bernardin Ltd. Bernardin continues to be the trusted leader in home canning products.

Home canning has always been the best way to preserve the natural goodness of our foods. Today home canning is even more attractive to Canadians because of there growing concern and interest in knowing the source of there food we eat. We see this thinking everyday in the healthy lifestyle concerns, organic produce, and the proliferation of farmer’s markets. It’s also evident in the popularity of the 100 mile diet and locally grown foods, the enhanced retail produce sections and the overwhelming popularity of home gardening.

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