Vespa, Kimberly: - Kimberly Vespa was born and raised in Lake Placid, NY. Beginning at the age of 15, she attended Northwood School for ski racing, and was one of the top 3 ski racers in NY state. After Northwood, she went on to study Business Administration at Plymouth State University in New Hampshire, where she received her Bachelor's Degree. At the university, Kimberly made the NCAA Skiing Championships, 2 years in a row. She graduated in the winter of 1980, so that she could return home in time to help her father cook for the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid. Thus, her illustrious career in cooking began.Like skiing, cooking came naturally to Kim. From 1980 to 1997, she cooked at the family restaurant, the Villa Vespa, learning everything she needed to know about food and cooking. In 1985, Kim traveled to California to cook at the iconic Mudd's Restaurant in San Ramone, at the onset of the California Cuisine movement. She returned to Lake Placid to work at the Villa Vespa, and remained there until it's closing in 1997. For the next two years, she worked locally as a private chef. In December 1998, Kim opened Villa Vespa Pasta & Sauce Company, a store colloquially known to locals as Villa Vespas. Out of the shop, Kim and her team sold homemade Italian takeout meals, both individual and family-sized, as well as offering catering. It remained a successful Lake Placid staple for 20 years. In addition to the the store, she jarred and sold the Villa Vespa Marinara sauce by the caseloads all over the northeastern United States. Kimberly remains in Lake Placid, NY to this day. Her daughter Emma grew up working at the store, and shares a love for the family recipes and the community that made the restaurant and the store a success. Kim is excited to share this cookbook with the community that loved the Villa Vespa so much, as well as those that have yet to enjoy its food.