WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif. –  Kneading dough side by side is how this cooking couple now spends their days. Giana Barone and Antonio Sessa recently combined their talents to open their own restaurant, Made in Italy. 

Sessa was literally made in Italy and Barone from California. The couple grew up across the world from one another, but in very similar ways.

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Sessa was making fresh pasta at a young age with his mom and grandma. When he moved to the U.S. to continue his culinary career, he took his roots with him.

“I think about my childhood and my time with my family,” Sessa said.

He says it was hard for him to be away from his family, so when creating his own restaurant, he wanted to bring a piece of Italy here.

“Building this place, it’s kind of like I feel at home. I feel like I have a piece of me from Italy,” said Sessa.

He brought his home to Barone’s home. As an Italian American, she too made homemade pasta with her dad growing up. She says it is validating to bring her food to her community.

“We have my stuff and Antonio’s stuff together,” said co-owner, Barone.

Each chef offers their unique expertise to the restaurant. Take something simple like a salad. Barone says Sessa wasn’t used to making it, so she crafted the menu with her California roots.

“I feed off him and he feeds off me, which is good,” said Barone.

At the end of the day, they brought their backgrounds together to create a restaurant that they just want to feel like home.

“We see people sharing plates and that’s what they do in Italy and you don’t see that a lot here. So, I think it’s really beautiful we were able to bring people together to do that,” said Barone.

Share a meal like family at Made In Italy Bistro located at 3825 East Thousand Oaks Blvd. Westlake Village, CA. 91361.