Emi’s Biscotteria, Pacific Grove

Whenever she reminisces about childhood days spent baking with her Nonna, baker Emily—dubbed "Emi" by her grandmother—can still smell the aromas of baking dough and powdered sugar wafting from the kitchen. Though back then her idea of helping was to steal tiny bits of dough, Emi is now the keeper of those trusted family recipes and hopes to share those same Sicilian sweets with other families. She still relies on her grandmother’s guidance as she bakes each batch of biscotti, wedding cookies, chocolate balls, and amaretti, and she calls to mind the huge Italian parties and weddings where she enjoyed them as a young girl. Besides cookies, she also prepares traditional Italian tiramisu that can feed up to 16 people, making it the perfect size for a birthday party, Sunday dinner, or troupe of two-headed square dancers.