Welcome to your Meet a Mom Interview!
Where are you from originally?
I was born in Italy and moved to the States with my parents at 1 year old! Was raised in Rhode Island before moving to NYC for university.
How long have you lived in New Canaan? How many kids and their age(s)?
We have lived in New Canaan 2.5 years. I have three children, 10, 8 and 3
Favorite things to do with your kids in general or in town?
My kids love going to Rosie’s for breakfast. My girls would go to Groove to buy clothes everyday if I let them and my son loves Mead Park.
What’s your favorite restaurant in town for a family date? A night out with friends? Why?
With the kids, we enjoy Spiga and Tequila Mockingbird. Both places are nice and loud so I find them both to be super kid friendly. And, the food is consistent and the kids have their favorites. For a night out with friends, I think Sole or Elm are very good and again, you can count on a good meal every time.
What is your favorite kid-friendly recipe?
My children love chicken cutlets. I with batter them with egg and then breadcrumbs. Fry them up in olive oil and then spritz them with lots and lots of lemon. Great the next day in their school lunch box too!
What is your local go-to store for children’s clothes? Shoes? Furniture? Yourself?
As I mentioned, the girls are really excited about Groove. I usually grab nice outfits for my son at Crew Cuts and I am a big fan of Togs. They always have new stuff and if I need a pick me up, you will find me there.
What are your favorite events in New Canaan?
I think Christmas in New Canaan is super special. The town looks like something out of a Norman Rockwell painting. We also love May fair and the Memorial Day parade. My girls, husband and their YMCA tribe participate.
What has been the most difficult age with your children to date? What helped you overcome the challenges at that time?
None of my kids had the terrible twos, they went for the terrible threes. I think with each child, you become more patient and understand that it will pass. Kids just need positive discipline and lots of structure.
How do you relax and unwind?
I love a bit of pampering. Blow out, mani pedi, massage, with all the running around we do, its nice to take pause to look good.
Guilty pleasure? French fries. In a perfect world, they would be included in every meal.
Anything else you want to add? Business venture? Involvement in local organizations?
I have a passion project that I am working on turning into a cookbook. I cook with immigrant women to preserve recipes from their countries of origin. My hope is include as many places on the globe that I can reach. You can see where I have ‘been’ on www.annasheirloomkitchen.com and @annafgass on Instagram. If you have a special mother who would cook with me, please let me know!!!
You can see one of Anna’s recent cooking experiences with Cherie here: http://newcanaandarienmoms.com/tales-from-the-middle-east-what-a-feast/
