From Sicily to Los Angeles

If you had told me fifteen years ago that I’d be serving authentic cannoli in Los Angeles—at stadiums, concerts, weddings, and private parties—I would’ve laughed and probably handed you a cookie instead. Yet here we are. And let me tell you: nothing says Hollywood hustle quite like introducing a 1,000-year-old Sicilian pastry to a city famous for green juice.

Let’s rewind.

Back then, I was just another customer at sporting events, staring at concession stands that all looked the same: overpriced nachos, hot dogs, hamburgers, popcorn. I wanted something more. Something unique. Something with quality.

And then, almost like fate, cannoli started following me around. I spotted them in movies, in TV shows, and even when my son begged for one in a New York pastry shop. Being Italian, I had always known the dessert (and how to make it), but that moment lit a spark. I began researching what makes the best cannolo.

When I looked around L.A., no one was doing it right. Shells were prefilled. The filling was bland—or worse, padded with ingredients that had no place in a traditional recipe. I traveled from San Francisco’s Little Italy to New York’s bakeries, and finally to Italy—sampling, comparing, and learning. My kids became my most honest taste-testers, and together, we fine-tuned the recipe that would one day bring authentic Italian cannoli to Los Angeles.

We popped up in stadiums and concert venues across L.A., and cannoli quickly became the unexpected star of the snack stand. Los Angeles is a city that reinvents itself daily, but it also knows how to celebrate the classics. That’s what I love about bringing a taste of Sicilian tradition here. We don’t mess with authenticity—we honor it. But we’re not afraid to have fun either: a dusting of pistachio, a drizzle of chocolate, even seasonal flavors if you ask nicely.

So whether you’re at a wedding, a party, or just searching for the best cannoli in Los Angeles, know this: Holi Cannoli is proof that a little piece of old-world Italy can thrive in the City of Angels.