Meet the Villa Pia Family: Patrizia and Marinella

In a delightful new series on the blog, we introduce you to the ‘Villa Pia family’ — the amazing team that helps make your holiday in Italy so special. We asked the staff questions about work and what they do in their spare time. We hope you, our readers, enjoy these interviews as much as we do.

In today’s edition, we sit down with two of the kitchen’s liveliest members!

 

 
Name
Patrizia.

Occupation
Cook.

How long have you worked at Villa Pia?
17 years.

Paola, the manager, adds: ‘Patrizia also worked at Villa Pia as a young woman doing ironing for the previous owners at Villa Pia. Marinella’s grandmother and Patrizia’s mother also worked on one of the farms owned by this noble family, who had 50 farms across the region.’

What do you like most about working at the villa?
I like the place, the ambience, I feel good working here. The cooks always do their job in pairs, I enjoy working alongside Marinella. As soon as I started the job, I felt happy and that has a lot to do with the employers. We work terribly hard but I never feel bad about coming to work. One of the nicest things about Villa Pia is that even though at some points during the year, everyone is at odds with one another, whenever there’s something difficult we pull together. We’re like family, we might squabble, but we come together in the end.

Marinella and I both used to work in a textile factory and it was horrible and stressful. Villa Pia is the opposite, because we do our job with pleasure, time passes very quickly. When we were at the factory, twice I got in my car and drove home just because of the stress. Here, Morag is very friendly and she trusts us. In the kitchen, we respect Morag’s wishes 100%.

Anything you would change?
I’d like a bigger kitchen!

What are your fondest or funniest memories of working here?
When I’m singing as I’m cooking and guests come into the kitchen and start clapping! Sometimes I feel shy when we’re teaching a cooking class, knowing that people with high-powered jobs, even professional chefs, are taking my instructions.

 

 
What do you enjoy doing when you’re not at Villa Pia?
Ballroom dancing! I love going dancing, you won’t find me at home much. Although every day I cook for 19 people at home, my entire family! My daughter used to work here as a waitress and now she has a PhD in Food Science.

Describe Villa Pia in 3 words.
Three words? I don’t know! I feel comfortable here, it’s like home.

Name
Marinella.

Occupation
Cook.

How long have you worked at Villa Pia?
14 years.

What do you like most about working at the villa?
It’s like family, like being at home. You’re free to fetch coffee, tea, everything is on tap. You feel free here.

 

 
Anything you would change?
Sometimes it’s very stressful, I think the hardest thing was the last two weddings we held at Villa Pia. Everyone was worried, Paola (the manager) lost a tooth and developed a rash! But it turned out well in the end.

What are your fondest or funniest memories of working here?
The funniest was at the wedding when all of the cooks went bouncing on the trampoline and then we couldn’t get out!

What do you enjoy doing when you’re not at Villa Pia?
My family owns lots of olive trees so I like to go olive picking. I enjoy cooking and I sing in a church choir. I also do babysitting, including looking after one of the other cooks’ kids from time to time.

Paolo says: ‘Marinella is a survivor of breast cancer, she’s had 2 operations. She’s our hero because she came back to work stoically and always has a smile on her face.’

Describe Villa Pia in 3 words.
Pleasant, Happy, Family.

To enquire about a holiday at Villa Pia visit the Villa Pia Bookings page