While living in Italy, she immersed herself in culinary arts, learning from a culture that prizes food quality, freshness, and beauty. She studied baking, chocolate-making, and gelato production, inspired by her surroundings and fueled by a need to help others like her son.
Get To Know
Roanna
Founder of The Gluten Free Culinary School
Roanna didn’t grow up a pastry prodigy—she grew up on a cattle ranch in rural Utah, raised in a vibrant Greek-American family where food was always at the center. Her grandmother claimed she was born in a restaurant kitchen, but baking didn’t come naturally to Roanna—until she taught herself to bake gluten-free.
Her journey began with personal need. When her toddler son was diagnosed with multiple food allergies, Roanna saw firsthand how hard it was to find food that was not only safe—but actually delicious. That challenge sparked her passion.
Roanna and her friend Lisa Altfest made history as the first gluten-free contestants on Netflix’s Sugar Rush Holiday (2019), placing 2nd and capturing hearts with their creativity and message of inclusion.
Roanna founded The Gluten Free Culinary School to help others do what she did: start from scratch and build something beautiful. Her online courses are designed for people who love to bake and want to create a gluten-free business with purpose, joy, and great flavor.
