Meet London-based Valentina, the ardent Italian foodie behind Valu’s Kitchen (@valuskitchen).

What motivated you to blog about food?
I wanted to share my southern Italian recipes all over the world and to keep in contact with other people.

What are you most looking forward to about FBC12?
Meeting people with my same passion for food and learning tricks about food photography and marketing.

What’s your signature dish?
Torta Caprese (a gluten free chocalate cake with almonds)

What’s been your ultimate meal to date?
Gattò di patate (a neapolitan potatoes tart with ham, smoked provola).

How has food blogging changed your life?
It made me think that there can be a chance to work with food.

Do you blog full time? What’s your day job?
No, I am a PA in a bank, but I would like blogging to be my full time job.

Favorite kitchen tool/appliance?
I love having all the proper utensils. I recently bought a microplane and my cooking life changed!

Future aspirations for the blog?
Cookbook, kitchen laboratory.

What do you find most challenging about blogging?
Everything, writing in english, taking pictures. I have just started so for, me everything is a challenge.

Where do you buy your groceries and why?
As my blog is about Italian cuisine I usually buy groceries in italian delicatessen or in Italy and sometimes my parents send ingredients to me. Ingredients for me are very important.