Ereka Vetrini has emerged as a culinary star on social media. Inspired by her daughter during the Covid pandemic, she began sharing her recipes on social media. Today, her cooking has garnered over 2 million followers on TikTok and Instagram.
Raised in her family’s pizzeria in Bronxville, Vetrini’s culinary journey is deeply rooted in tradition. Her recipes have gone viral, such as ricotta gnudi with pesto, serving as love letters to the dishes that her mother, grandmother, and aunts prepared. Now, she captivates a new generation of food lovers by sharing heartfelt recipes inspired by her roots and providing inspiration one mouthwatering post at a time.
She also has an apron line, plus a cookbook and an expanded product line on the horizon. We spoke to Vetrini to learn more.
Can you tell us about your background and growing up in your family’s Bronxville pizzeria?
My parents, both Italian immigrants, opened their first restaurant in Bronxville, New York, when I was just a baby. I grew up in that restaurant. When I was old enough, I’d help out any way I could. The word “restaurateur” sounds glamorous, but I saw firsthand how hard my parents worked to build a successful restaurant business that allowed them to put my brother and I through college. I am forever grateful for what they gave us and the work ethic they instilled in me. I’m not afraid to work really, really hard because I’ve seen where hard work can take you.
Tell us about how your daughter inspired you to share your recipes on social media.
For about a year leading up to the Covid quarantine, my daughter had been urging me to get on TikTok — she was 12 years old at the time. She’d tell me, “You NEED to make recipe videos on Tiktok.” It was an immediate “No.” She knew how much I loved to cook and clearly believed in me more than I believed in myself. I didn’t think TikTok wanted to hear from a 44-year-old self-taught cook. Then Covid hit, and on the first day of quarantine, just for fun, my daughter filmed my first TikTok recipe video. I opened with, “Home from school? Make your own lunch.” I shared how to make homemade ricotta gnudi and pesto. That video went viral with over 6 million views. I quickly started creating more videos. I bought a few lights and a tripod on Amazon. I taught myself how to edit, light, and was churning out about four recipe videos a week. Before I knew it, I had built an amazing community on both TikTok and Instagram, and I owe it all to my daughter.
While sharing heartfelt recipes inspired by your roots, you’ve turned family recipes into viral hits. Which of these recipes is closest to your heart?
There are so many! I find that whenever I share recipes from my childhood, my audience really responds. They can see the love and connection I have for my Italian heritage. My parents were born in a small town near Naples, Italy. They moved to this country when they were teenagers. They assimilated into American culture but never let go of their southern Italian heritage, specifically when it came to food. I learned about my roots through the meals my parents and grandparents cooked for us, fresh seasonal recipes that were passed on from generation to generation, not through written recipes, but by standing shoulder to shoulder cooking, chatting, and laughing in the kitchen, the heart of the household. This was their gift to us, their children and grandchildren, the new generation of American Italians.
I think I was one of the first to share a pastina recipe on TikTok nearly five years ago. My TikTok community asked that I share my macaroni and cheese recipe. I responded with, “I didn’t grow up on mac and cheese, my comfort food was pastina,” and shared my mother’s pastina recipe.
My Feast of the Seven Fish recipes, like my stuffed calamari and vongole, are also very close to my heart. For nearly five decades, I celebrated the Feast of the Seven Fish with my parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. So many memories. So much fish!
What inspired you to launch Monarch Aprons?
I had one follower who consistently asked, “Why don’t you wear an apron?” Initially, I was annoyed by the question, but then I started to think on it. Why was I so opposed to wearing an apron? The answer was clear: I couldn’t find a single apron that I found stylish and functional. The traditional apron style didn’t jive with how I feel when I’m cooking for my community, friends, or family. The light bulb went on, and I started to get to work.
My goal was to create an apron that was not just stylish but also comfortable, functional, and that could be adjusted to fit everyone’s unique body shape. In my mind, a wrap apron of some type seemed to be the obvious answer. I also knew that I wanted more coverage up top, which is why I went with a halter neckline.
Do you visit the Hamptons often?
I do not visit enough! I used to take trips to Montauk with friends when I was in my 20s, and we were there for my mother’s 60th, but it’s time to go back and introduce the Hamptons to my kids!
What’s next for you and your business?
I am really excited to be launching a brand new website in just a few months. This one has all the bells and whistles. It will provide nutritional information and will make it super easy for my audience to find, save, and print their favorite recipes!
