Mission

Culinary Genes was founded to create unique and personalized programs based upon your individual DNA, that nourish and transform your mind, body and soul, as well as, keeping family recipes and traditions alive.  Our mission is about improving the well being and quality of life of people around the world by motivating, inspiring, and educating. 

Endorsement

"The science behind chronic illness calls for a focus not on the average but on the individual. Precisely because every one of us is, in fact, unique, an operating model that treats us as average can't possibly be effective."

Dr. Jeffrey Bland, The Disease Delusion

"I have had the honor and pleasure of knowing Pasqualina Raspaolo as both a nutritional professional and friend for the past fifteen years. She is the model of integrity, dedication, and fearless commitment to being the best she can be as a nutritional professional focused on food and nutrients and their impact on our physical, metabolic, and psychological health. She is a tireless lifelong learner who has seen her role as a guide to other people's introduction into how important food and nutrition are for both their health and their enjoyment in life. She exudes positive energy and reminds us by her approach to life of what it is we are all capable of if we commit ourselves to positive change”.

Dr. Jeffrey Bland has been an internationally recognized leader in the nutritional medicine field for over 35 years and is known as the father of functional medicine for his ability to synthesize complex scientific concepts in a manner that is both personable and accessible.  Dr. Bland has authored five books on nutritional medicine for healthcare professionals and six books on nutrition and health for the general public.  He is also the principal author of over 120 peer-reviewed research papers on nutritional biochemistry and medicine.

Dr. Bland founded the Personalized Lifestyle Medicine Institute (PLMI) in 2012, a not-for-profit entity whose mission is to transform healthcare through the promotion of information, innovation, and implementation of personalized lifestyle medicine.

Our Story

Growing up an Italian immigrant whose mother’s first job in the U.S. was at a bakery in Brooklyn, I developed a passion for food at an early age.  You could say it is in my DNA.  My fondest childhood memories are of my family getting together and enjoying meals my mother prepared with traditional ways of baking that she learned from her family in Italy.  With love of nutrition always at the forefront of my mind, I pursued a master’s degree in nutrition, worked for several nutraceutical companies, and studied under some of the leading experts in the field of functional medicine.  What I discovered through this journey was that one thing mattered most to me: keeping my family’s traditions alive through baking.  This realization fueled my desire to attend culinary school to become a chef.  It has become my life’s work to teach people how to lead healthier lives through holistic nutrition, movement, and laughter.

After several family members developed autoimmune diseases, I decided to learn how to take my mamma’s traditional recipes and transform them into delicious gluten-free alternatives.  Many hours were spent testing and refining our methods.  Nonna Gianna’s gluten-free cookies was born and quickly became a hit amongst our family and friends.  I named them in honor of my mamma, the most amazing baker I’ve ever known.  They are made with love and stem from a commitment to keep my family’s recipes and traditions alive that have been passed down through multiple generations.  I am excited to share them with the world.  May they bring the same joy to your family as they have mine.