Meet a Star of The Great American Recipe

Expect some anecdotes about her recent appearance on the PBS show, The Great American Recipe, as well as cooking tips and commentary from Marcella ‘Marcie’ DiChiara, when she appears at the Franklin Historical Museum on Saturday.

Her appearance, slated for 1 pm, is part of the Museum’s tribute to the town’s much-loved Feast of Saint Rocco – and all things Italian. The Saint Rocco event coincides with the hours of the Franklin Downtown Partnership Harvest Festival, which includes more than 150 booths and activities nearby.

According to PBS, “DiChiara is a first-generation American whose passion for her Sicilian roots comes through in every dish she prepares. Her mother came to the United States with her family at age ten, and her dad immigrated to the United States in his late twenties. Growing up in Connecticut, Marcella spent every summer with her family, including her three siblings, back in Sicily. These experiences informed how she viewed cooking and the importance of family and community gathering around the table. Marcella works as an E-Commerce executive and also helps local causes like the Franklin Downtown Partnership but never misses an opportunity to get in the kitchen and prepare a meal for her husband and two children. She prides herself on cooking traditional Sicilian dishes based on her mother’s recipes while using fresh, Mediterranean-inspired local produce. Marcella’s signature dish is Arancini al Ragu (Risotto Balls with Meat Sauce). You can learn more about Marcella at https://bostonhomecooking.com

The event is free. Also at the museum on Saturday will be pizza, cannolis (in limited quantities), an outstanding accordion player, bocce, a raffle for a bocce set, photographs and memorabilia associated with the St. Rocco’s Feast, and more. The museum is located at 80 West Central Street, near the Fire Station.