Elena Brown

Gluten-Free Culinary Storyteller & Recipe Heritage Specialist Getting diagnosed with non-celiac gluten sensitivity in my late twenties felt like losing my Italian identity. Growing up in nonna's Brooklyn kitchen, learning traditional techniques that suddenly became off-limits—I decided to fight for those family food traditions instead of giving up. With my food journalism background and European baking training, I became obsessed with recreating authentic flavors in gluten-free formats. I've adapted 400+ traditional recipes from various cultures, with my gnocchi recipe winning "Recipe of the Year" from the National Gluten-Free Living Awards in 2022. I collaborate with the Italian-American Cultural Center to document traditional family recipes and volunteer with the Westchester Celiac Support Group, teaching monthly pasta-making classes. Food is the heart of family storytelling. No one should sacrifice their cultural heritage due to dietary restrictions.