The origins of the Luhan's culinary dynasty can be traced to long before the family opened their first establishment, What's Cooking? Bistro located in Newport Beach. It began with the family matriarch, Mary Vallera, first to set sail from her homeland of Prota, Italy who traveled to the land of opportunity - the United States.
While her three daughters often surrounded her in the kitchen, it was her youngest daughter Lucia who displayed the most intense interest in culinary activities. She was curious about the use of ingredients, the fine art of pasta making and the many recipes her family used for creating sauces. Lucia's keen interest in gastronomy continued to develop throughout the years.