One of my favorite things about meeting other Italy expats is learning about their lives-both before they moved to the bel paese and now that they are here-and understanding what it is about Italy that made them stay.

Today, I’m thrilled to share with you an interview I recently did with long-term Italy expat, Judy Witts, who visited Tuscany in 1984, decided to stay, got married to a local and has established herself as one of the most popular cooking divas in Italy.

Thank you so much, Judy, for taking time out of your insanely busy schedule to chat with me. I hope the rest of you enjoy the interview.

1. At 26 years, you are one of the longest-running expats in Italy I know. How did you end up in Italy and specifically, in Tuscany?

I bought a one way ticket in 1984- for a month in France ( I was a French pastry chef in a 5 star hotel in San Francisco) and then a month in Italy, to check it out and study Italian. I was told the Tuscans spoke Italian and not dialect- and picked Florence over Siena as it was not a hill-town. Once I arrived in Florence, it was love at first sight.

2. Back in the US you were a pastry chef. How did that experience shape your Tuscan Kitchen?

Being a pastry chef, regular cooking was easy- I think one of the things I do best is to simplify recipes for the home kitchen. I learned how to do everything the classic way for restaurant cooking, but teaching home chefs with little experience needs recipes you can do easily after a hard day at work. Having fabulous ingredients, you need to do very little to make a meal great! Keeping it simple is my mantra.

3. In addition to the Divina Cucina cooking school, you also teach classes in the US and offer Monday in the Market market tours. What other services do you plan to offer in 2010?

I have begun teaching classes out in Certaldo, where I live. Not at my home, which is small, but at a lovely Villa with apartment rentals near my house. I also do custom week-long programs both in Tuscany and in Sicily.

Sicily programs will be offered in June and September and November next year. I have fallen in love with Sicily and can’t wait to share it with my students.

My Monday at the market in Florence is a great intro for people to what to expect in Tuscany for food and wine and a great chance to get info on trip planning from me while we have lunch. Cooking classes will be Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday out in Certaldo.

4. You make it all look easy! How do you juggle all of your services and be honest now, what is the most stressful part of the job?

Variety keeps it interesting, I also run a Master Chocolatiers program in October yearly for students from a friends school and collaborate with cooking schools and chefs that want to bring their students to Italy. I act as their Italian connection and plan the tours and accompany them to artisans all over, off the beaten track.

Since it is seasonal work, I have a lot of time for planning. Than God for Internet. I spend a lot on time online, with my blogs, Facebook and Twitter as well as staying in touch with clients planning trips. It takes six months to a year often to get groups together for a week-long program, lots of little details.

5. Besides the scrumptious food, what part of your job is most rewarding?

I adore getting emails back from successful students, repeating recipes at home! Also return students, some I had when they were here in college and I taught student dinner classes, now return with their families.

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Thank you for the interview, Judy-I, for one, can’t wait to get up to Tuscany and take a class. In bocca al lupo for another great year!

*Photos by Judy Witts

Other Italy expat business owner interviews include:

Judith Greenwood

Marla of Bella Baita B&B

Diane of Baur B&B

Megan of Bella Vita Italia

** Today is the last day to enter Blogging from the Boot: The Best of 2009 contest for Italy-based bloggers! **