Memories Are Made Around the Dinner Table is more than a cookbook-it is a heart-stirring celebration of family, tradition, and the power of food to bring people together. Chef Annie Payton invites readers into the warm, bustling world that shaped her, from her Italian-American upbringing in Franklin Square, Long Island, to the vibrant dinner tables she later created with her mother, Connie "Cungie" DeFalco, in their beloved Las Vegas restaurants.
Told with humor, nostalgia, and deep affection, the book blends cherished family stories with the signature dishes that define the DeFalco-Payton legacy. Annie shares vivid memories of growing up in a lively household where cousins were inseparable, neighbors felt like family, and every gathering-large or small-centered around delicious food made with love. From the aroma of her mother's simmering marinara to the sound of relatives laughing around the kitchen table, these early moments became the foundation of Annie's passion for cooking and hospitality.
As Annie's life journey unfolds-moving across the country, building a career in the airline and hospitality industries, and ultimately opening Annie's Gourmet Italian with her mother-the reader experiences the beautiful intersection of food, community, and fate. Mentors, lifelong friends, customers who became family, and even a few unexpected angels weave through her story, each leaving their mark both on her heart and on the recipes featured in this collection.
The recipes themselves are rich with heritage and love: antipasti inspired by Aunt Mary's legendary spreads, Annie's award-winning stuffed mushrooms, comforting pastas, beautifully layered parmigianas, irresistible desserts, and treasured dishes that carry generations of tradition. Each recipe is paired with the memories, people, and moments that gave it life-reminding readers that great food is never just about ingredients; it is about the stories made along the way.
Memories Are Made Around the Dinner Table honors Annie's parents, Connie and Carmine, whose love, humor, and dedication shaped every chapter of her life. With heartfelt storytelling and soul-warming dishes, this book invites readers to create their own moments of connection, joy, and togetherness-one recipe, one gathering, and one memory at a time.
Payton, Annie: - "Chef Annie Payton has always known that the heart of a home - and the birthplace of the best stories - is the dinner table. Raised in a big, boisterous Italian family where meals were equal parts nourishment and entertainment, Annie grew up watching her mother, Connie, transform simple ingredients into unforgettable moments. It was Connie's steady hands, generous spirit, and unshakable belief in feeding people well that shaped Annie's earliest culinary instincts.Annie's journey officially began on a Christmas Eve when Santa - the real Santa, according to family lore - delivered a Suzy Homemaker oven to little A.T., as she was lovingly called. But throughout her life, the true teacher was always her mother. Connie's influence quietly guided Annie from childhood kitchen helper to seasoned chef, businesswoman, and storyteller with a heart full of tradition.Later in life, Annie and her mother became partners in building not just one but two beloved restaurants in Henderson, Nevada. Working side by side, they created welcoming spaces where families gathered, traditions were celebrated, and the recipes passed down through generations came alive. Their partnership - equal parts laughter, grit, and late-night menu planning - became the foundation of Annie's culinary success and one of the great joys of her life.More recently, Annie hosted a 13-episode cooking show with the EatThis TV network, Annie's Gourmet - An Italian Indulgence, with Season Two set to debut in 2026. On screen, she shares the same warmth, humor, and heartfelt Italian comfort food that defined her upbringing. Her brand, Annie's Gourmet, has earned an impressive seven Best of Las Vegas awards - including Best Italian Restaurant, Best Family Restaurant (a nod to the iconic pet patio inspired by Pal the Labrador), and five awards for Best Catering and Best Charcuterie. Aunt Mary would be proud - and Connie would be smiling right beside her.At the core of it all is a simple truth Annie learned from her mother: food is love, and sharing it is one of life's greatest gifts.Memories Are Made Around the Dinner Table is Annie's tribute to that legacy - a blend of cherished family stories, beloved recipes, laughter, and the heritage that continues to shape her life both inside and outside the kitchen.When she isn't cooking or writing, Annie loves spending time with her husband, Rik, and their two Labrador retrievers, Arthur and Frannie, while dreaming up new ways to honor the traditions her mother helped her carry forward."
