Cook, food television producer, and author, JoAnn Cianciulli (chan-chew-lee) is one of the food industry’s top insiders. A pioneer in her field, Cianciulli’s experience ranges from producing countless Food Network shows with top tier talent, such as Tyler Florence, Jet Tila, Aarti Sequeira, and Michael Voltaggio. As writer, she is the author of L.A.’s Original Farmers Market Cookbook (Chronicle) and The MasterChef Cookbook (Rodale). In addition JoAnn is co-author to 13 cookbooks, many with world-renowned chefs, including Michael Mina and Josiah Citrin. JoAnn has served as an on-camera industry expert on series including, Bravo’s Top Chef Masters and judge at food festivals, including LA Food & Wine and Charlotte Shout!

Hailing from New York, JoAnn grew up in an Italian-American restaurant family. She began her appreciation for food at the age of 12 when her father, Dominic, took over acclaimed chef/restaurateur Lidia Bastianich’s first restaurant, Buonavia, in Queens. Translated, the name means “the good way,” which has become her mantra ever since.

After studying at NYU’s prestigious Tisch School of the Arts for her degree in Film and Television, JoAnn relocated to Los Angeles to start he career in feature film production. It wasn’t long before she crafted her unique niche of morphing cooking-entertainment.

With over 20 years of experience in producing what is now known as “food television,” JoAnn has fed America’s growing appetite for celebrity chefs and blended her culinary savvy with production know-how to help create the food TV phenomenon as it exists today. She’s been instrumental in countless Food Network shows, including the wildly popular series Candy Land based on the beloved childhood game, Holiday Wars, Food Truck Nation, Tyler’s Ultimate, Simply Delicioso with Ingrid Hoffmann, and Next Iron Chef.

In addition to over 1,000 episodes filmed with the iconic network, JoAnn has produced Bravo’s hit series’ Top Chef and Top Chef Masters, Recipe Rehab (ABC), Bar Rescue (Paramount Network), Restaurant Startup (CNBC), the docu-reality series Marcel’s Quantum Kitchen (SyFy), and MasterChef with Gordon Ramsay (FOX). JoAnn complemented the series by authoring the companion cookbook and producing the five star-rated MasterChef Academy iPhone app. As Culinary Producer, JoAnn is also lead food stylist for all beauty shots for still and video photography.

It is her seasoned reputation and acumen that led to high profile cookbook collaborations including Tyler Florence’s Real Kitchen, Aaron Sanchez’s La Comida del Barrio, the Lever House Cookbook (Clarkson Potter) , and the acclaimed debut books for James Beard Award-winning chefs Michael Mina (Bulfinch) and Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink, with Miami star chef Michael Schwartz. Most recently, JoAnn is co-author of The Lemonade Cookbook (St. Martin’s Press) and The Charcoal Cookbook (Avery) with Michelin-Star chef Josiah Citrin, and also wrote the best-selling Crossroads cookbook (Artisan) with plant-based pioneer, chef Tal Ronnen.

JoAnn’s fusion of writing, recipe development, vast culinary knowledge, and an intimate understanding of the creative complexity of chefs, has uniquely positioned her as a leading force in food media. An accomplished gourmet in her own right, JoAnn’s greatest gift is her innate ability to translate the intricate passion of a chef to an accessible and appealing concept for the home viewer or reader. Although a die hard New Yorker, she has lived in Los Angeles for over a decade because juicy tomatoes are available year round.