A Special Interview with Mary Ann Esposito, a living legend of American culinary television, about the Korean Festival, NH

"I really want to come back this year. I just can't forget how special that day was."

These heartfelt words came from none other than Mary Ann Esposito — chef, author, broadcaster, and host of PBS Ciao Italia, one of America's longest-running cooking shows.

She's the one who lit up our first Greenland Korean Festival last year — trying on a hanbok, savoring kimchi and kimbap, being mesmerized by the fan dance, marveling at the Taekwondo demonstration, and laughing joyfully as her daughter Maureen and neighbor dressed in traditional Korean costumes. Mary Ann remembered every single moment.

Touched by her kind message, our church ambassador, Myung Kim invited Mary Ann to a warm breakfast gathering.
Over breakfast, Mary Ann shared these beautiful words:

"I appreciate my identity, and you appreciate your Korean culture. Who's to say that we can't have support for each other's culture?"

A living legend of American culinary television, returning to our humble little festival because she couldn't forget it — and now telling her daughter, her neighbors, and her friends: "Are you going to the Korean Festival this year?" One meeting becomes a friendship, and that friendship brings someone back to us. This is the story the Greenland Korean Festival is creating.

This June, at our second annual festival, we invite you to become a part of this story too.

Mary Ann, we're already setting aside one dozen of your favorite twisted donuts (꽈배기) — just for you!

📅 Festival I — Sat, June 13 | 10AM–3PM

🎵 Festival II — Sun, June 14 | 4PM

📍 Greenland UMC, NH | (603) 430-2929

#GreenlandKoreanFestival #KF2026 #MaryAnnEsposito #CiaoItalia #TwistedDonuts