About Il Convento

La Storia - The Story

Luisa Di Marcantonio the founder of the “Il Convento” brand, was born in Canada to Italian immigrants from the region of Abruzzo in Italy. Chef Luisa always loved to bake but only learned later in life to cook like her mamma. Proving it is never too late to learn to cook. 

Luisa’s mamma Annunziata was the inspiration and her recipes were all made from scratch (e.g. bread, pasta, gnocchi, tortellini, ravioli, pizza, prosciutto, dried sausage…). Unfortunately, Annunziata passed away too soon and Luisa wanting to keep her memory alive was moved to recreate her favourite recipes.  She tested and perfecting them on her family to make sure it was just like mamma’s.

Luisa loves to learn how to cook the easy way and shows you step by step with tips and tricks so you can do it at home.  Just like mamma, we use real and simple ingredients; mamma would not have it any other way.

The name “Il Convento” was selected because it embodies simple and real food that was made at the convent that she regularly visited growing up where her great aunt was the Mother Superior.  This inspirational “Villa Serena” convent is located in Tuscany and the meals there were simple but spectacular.

Luisa spent several years as in leadership positions in the chocolate and wine corporations which furthered her passion for food and entertaining.  Passion and perfection are at the heart of everything she does.  As an outlet for these creations, she founded the company “Passione Foods”; “Passione” means passion in Italian and she has a lot of it.