Instagram

Instagram did not return a 200.

Follow Me!

About Fran

Hi, I’m Fran Tunno, also known as Frenzy (my mom’s pet name for me). I am a first generation Italian American and the woman in the above photo, to the left of the older couple (my parents) at the head of the table. (That was probably 40 years ago – I’m a little more crinkly now.)

I was raised to be a good Catholic, remain a virgin until death or marriage, live within 50 feet of my parents, become a school teacher, stay married forever, and take care of everyone else first.

Disappointment was inevitable.

I am now a divorcee writer, living in Los Angeles. I have three grown kids, a Corgi, a small apartment and a close-knit family 2,000 miles away, who I miss very much.

I compensate by cooking, baking, inviting people over so I can feed them, walking my dog, watching far too many English period pieces, and getting lost in a good book.

The reason I started this blog was to share stories and make people smile because life can be ridiculously hard. Sometimes you just need an oasis where you can have a laugh and dream of good food.

Then I realized that food has always been a huge part of my life, so why not include recipes? So I did!

Mom checking to make sure you're eating enough.

Mom checking to make sure you’re eating enough.

So, any time life has beaten the crap out of you, sit down, relax and read some of my blog posts. Hopefully, you’ll laugh, think, or be inspired to cook. Plus, you’ll benefit from my mom’s sage advice like: “Fart while you can because once you get married, it’s too late.”(Clearly, if you’re very thin skinned, this may not be the place for you.)

If you’re the child or grandchild of an immigrant, (Italian or not) you’ll probably read my stories and go, “Oh my God, Yes!  Her mom is just like my: aunt, grandma, mother-in-law.”

My “Mom’ stories are some of my favorites. As soon as someone showed up, she sat them down at the table and put everything in our refrigerator in front of them. Then she focused on them with laser beam intensity, and if they didn’t eat enough, she’d say — with grave disappointment, “What’s a matta — you don’d a liiiga my food?”  She took force-feeding to dizzying heights.

She’s still the source of my best material, even though she’s been gone for nearly 30 years!  Here are links to a few of my most popular mom stories: Bob Barker, Chicken Soup or Exlax, How My Italian Mom Weeded Out Prospective Suitors,  Tang God For Patty – A Thanksgiving Story, Curse Words Never Sound as Bad in Italian, and finally, Six Simple Words That Can End Your Life.

I think I got her in the parent lottery because I was meant to share her stories. Here’s what some of my readers have to say (and no, I did not pay them, but probably should):

  • “I love this post for so many reasons! Foremost for all the belly laughs you get out of me every time, but also for the sentiment and the self-knowledge of it all.”  -Nicol
  • “Just want you to know that I read your blog on swearing – in a public place – and was laughing so hard, people were staring!!!!” -Sister Janet
  • “My friend Cathy introduced me to your blog last year and I have been thoroughly entertained ever since”. –Daedae
  • “I’m drooling on my keyboard as I write this, so I hope it doesn’t short out before I’m finished.” -Chas
  • “Your posts consistently make me laugh out loud.” -Monica
  • “You have a magical way of reaching deep into our souls and pulling out the best of the memories. Bless you!” – Don
  • Mom's face if you were eating!

    Mom’s face when you ate her food.

    “I made the sad mistake of reading ‘Curse Words Never Sound as Bad In Italian’ to Al and showed him the picture of the spatula while eating breakfast. That picture should have been a fair warning of “do NOT drink your coffee now!” Well, even though we laughed at the picture of the spatula, he proceeded to drink coffee as I read your descriptions of the effectiveness of this tool and the chase scenes that would happen. He suddenly exploded with laughter and coffee shot all across the breakfast table.” -Marianne

If a story has moved you, or made you spit coffee across the breakfast table, please feel free to comment and become a follower.  I’ll talk food and life with you any time. Thanks for stopping by!

All work on this sight is copyrighted and cannot be reprinted without express and written consent from Fran Tunno.  ©Fran Tunno and AtFransTable.Wordpress.com, 2014.   If you want to use something, please ask first, OK?  
Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Fran Tunno and AtFransTable.Wordpress.com, with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

  • Reply
    Suzanna Sargsyan
    April 17, 2014 at 11:39 am

    Fran, so glad we met!! Your blog is very interesting and funny! Your personality shines through your writing beautifully! Looking forward to reading more from you 🙂 & stealing a few of your awesome recipes 😉

    • Reply
      Fran Tunno
      September 23, 2014 at 3:31 pm

      Suzanna, thank you so much for the kind words. Thanks for reading! As long as you say you got the recipe from me, it’s not stealing!

  • Reply
    Wendy Chan
    April 17, 2014 at 10:52 pm

    Hi Fran is Wendy. How are you? I miss you already in panel. 🙁

    • Reply
      Fran Tunno
      September 23, 2014 at 3:30 pm

      Hi Wendy, thanks for the sweet words!

  • Reply
    Sara Lock
    June 9, 2014 at 4:13 pm

    Write more! Write more!

    • Reply
      Fran Tunno
      September 23, 2014 at 3:29 pm

      Love you Sara, I will keep writing!

    • Reply
      Charles Burkett
      May 16, 2015 at 3:34 am

      Fran, I want you to know how much I appreciate reading your blog. I tend to binge on it, so it’s 6:30 am on Saturday and during the past hour and a half I’ve smiled, chuckled, laughed and become verklemft. (Not sure about the spelling, but you know what I mean.) For so many reasons, thank you. Love, Chuck

  • Reply
    Natalia
    October 3, 2014 at 2:50 pm

    I had to laugh about your mom’s disappointment when company comes over and doesn’t eat a ton of food. That is how it was in my family, and most of our neighborhood growing up Italian. I find myself acting the same way with my children’s friends. Keep writing about your Italian memories, not only do they make me laugh, but bring back memories!

    • Reply
      Fran Tunno
      October 6, 2014 at 10:49 pm

      Natalia, thank you so much for reading and taking the time to write a message. I so appreciate your support and am glad you can identify. Your note made my day!

  • Reply
    Emily (Pizutti) Schneider
    September 25, 2015 at 4:29 pm

    I just have to tell you I am laughing and crying at the same time right now!! My father is John Pizutti. My mother Mary Ann emailed me one story.
    I got into your page and I cannot wait to read more!!
    I was very small when my grandmother passed
    And I was blessed to know your father and what a big heart he had
    Even so I have vivid memories of them. I remember Mary ALWAYS made the cookies for weddings. I remember all the Christmas eves and all the fun! And I have heard versions of some of the titles of your stories and I cannot WAIT to read!!!
    I am so happy I can share this with my family
    Thank you so much!!!!!!

  • Reply
    Emily (Pizutti) Schneider
    September 25, 2015 at 4:30 pm

    AND one more thing…..I am certain that some of my traits are inherently From the women on my fathers mothers side lol

  • Reply
    dbxyiizyc
    November 19, 2020 at 5:49 am

    + за пост
    _________________
    iddaa bayileri direniyor

  • Reply
    TimothyPex
    January 9, 2021 at 6:34 am

    Огромное тебе СПАСИБО
    _________________
    Iddaa kuponu yapanlar

  • Reply
    Roberthor
    January 11, 2021 at 12:24 am

    ничего такого
    _________________
    Бк марафон адрес спб

Leave a Reply