Family means everything

Dominic Munasteri is the grandson of Sicilian and French immigrants who crossed the ocean from Palermo, Sicily, and the rocky coasts of Nova Scotia, Canada, carrying with them little more than their language, their faith, and handwritten recipes stained with olive oil and red sauce. In their small American kitchen, pots of tomato gravy simmered next to bubbling seafood stews, and the air was always heavy with garlic, fresh basil, and the warm sweetness of bread coming out of the oven.

Dom’s father married a fiery, big‑hearted Italian/Cajun girl from Metairie, Louisiana, where every family gathering turned into a feast, and every story was told around a crowded table. In their home, the sizzle of hot oil, the crackle of seasoned cast‑iron skillets, and the slow perfume of onions, peppers, and celery meant supper was on the way—and you would be hard‑pressed to find a kitchen that smelled better than the one Dom grew up in.

Today, Dominic draws from that well‑worn family cookbook of Cajun and Sicilian recipes, each page a bridge between continents and generations, to bring both cultures together at Dom’s New Orleans Kitchen. Every dish is a tribute to his grandparents’ journey and his parents’ Louisiana roots, blending the bold spice of the bayou with the rustic comfort of Old World Sicilian cooking.