Name: Reese Amorosi aka Glamorosi
Occupation: Recipe Developer; Gardener; Garden-to-Table Cooking Instructor
Place of Residence: Philadelphia, PA
Contact info: Click here
Background:
A Lifetime of Gardening and Farming Experience:
Reese Amorosi, also known as Glamorosi, grew up on stage and local TV in Philadelphia, PA and Atlantic City, NJ. Reese also grew up cooking and gardening: at age 4 she was growing navy beans and morning glories; by age 5 she was planting kitchen gardens and cooking from scratch with her Mother’s family from the Calabria region of Italy, and her Father from the American South. Along with cooking and baking, Reese’s parents taught her about herbs, tisanes, and the art of serving Afternoon Tea. These influences shine in the food that Glamorosi Cooks.
The first business Reese ever owned, at age 7, was a roadside stand selling the organic produce, houseplants and landscaping plants she helped grow at a small family farm. In the 80s and 90s, she sold soups made with her original recipes and homegrown ingredients at produce stores and farmers markets. During this time, she also worked in restaurant and club management developing bar programs and menus, and booking and producing entertainment and events. This led to clients hiring Reese as a stylist and makeup artist for music videos, print, runway and weddings, and gigs working with world-renowned makeup artists Bobbi Brown and Mary Greenwell.
Reese is passionate about cooking and organic gardening. Her recipes are developed using the produce she grows in her kitchen garden and community garden plots, fresh ingredients from local specialty markets, and unique products from clients across the USA. In 2012, Reese began teaching garden-to-table cooking classes, and in 2017 she launched the Glamorosi Cooks website to share her original recipes and gardening information.
Garden Consulting, Design and Maintenance Services:
Reese helps residential and small business clients grow their own organic produce, pollinator gardens and rose gardens. This service is tailored to specific goals and can include garden design based on seasonal menu planning and/or entertaining plans, plant selection, ongoing maintenance (pruning, weeding, etc) and harvesting.
Gardening Accomplishments:
In 2016 and 2017 Reese contributed recipes to Heirloom Gardener Magazine.
In 2017 Reese was featured in the Botanical Interests seed catalog.
In 2018 Reese’s roses were featured in the American Rose Society Calendar.
In 2017 and 2018, Reese served on the Governance Council and was Chair of the Landscape Committee for her area’s community garden.
In 2017 she initiated and designed (and as of 2024 still manages) the installation of the community garden’s butterfly sanctuary.
In 2020 it was certified as an official Monarch Waystation.
From March 2018 to present, Reese has competed in the annual PHS Philadelphia Flower Show:
- In March 2018, for her first time competing in The Philadelphia Flower Show, Reese won a Third Prize award in the Grand Old Plants category (Class 2558).
- In March 2019, Reese entered The Philadelphia Flower Show for a second time and won 11 awards: five First Prize blue ribbons; three Second Prize red ribbons; one Third Prize yellow ribbon; and two Honorable Mention white ribbons.
- In March 2020, Reese participated in The Philadelphia Flower Show for a third time and won 15 awards, a combination of Second and Third Prize ribbons, Honorable Mentions and Class Commendations.
- In June 2022, Reese competed in the Philadelphia Flower Show’s second outdoor show (the event was moved outside in 2021 and 2022 due to covid) and won 11 awards: two First Prize blue ribbons; one Second Prize red ribbon; four Honorable Mentions and four Class Commendations.
- In March 2023, the Philadelphia Flower Show moved back to its indoor location, the Pennsylvania Convention Center, where Reese’s entries won 29 awards: one First Prize blue ribbon; seven Second Prize red ribbons; five Third Prize yellow ribbons; twelve Honorable Mentions; four Class Commendations.
- In March 2024, Reese once again participated in The Philadelphia Flower Show and her plants won 13 awards: two First Prize blue ribbons; three Second Prize red ribbons; one Third Prize yellow ribbon; seven Honorable Mentions.
For over a decade, Reese has had a side-gig as a food and garden photographer:
From 2015 to 2020, Reese was a contributing food photographer at ICON Magazine.
In May 2017, Reese’s photo of the now-defunct Philly institution, Little Pete’s Diner, was featured on Metro Philadelphia’s cover.
Reese’s photos have also been featured in art shows and auctions, and published in newspapers and periodicals including:
- Metro Philadelphia (2014-2024)
- Dosage Magazine (2019-2022)
- Philly Voice (2018)
- WXPN’s The Key (2017-2018)
- Broad Street Review (2017)
- Philadelphia Gay News (2015)
- Philly.com (2015)
- The Philadelphia Inquirer (2013-2015)
- Philadelphia City Paper (2012-2015)
- Schmap Philadelphia (12th Ed. 2010)
Reese at home:
Reese currently lives in Philadelphia, PA, with her husband, journalist and radio host A.D. Amorosi. When the Glamorosi Cooks website initially launched, Reese and A.D. were parents to a magnificent Greyhound, the late, great Django, who was named in honor of guitarist Django Reinhardt. In 2019, they adopted a funny and fabulous Pharaoh Hound named Tia.
When she’s not cooking or gardening, Reese loves the beach, she practices yoga, she draws and paints, she studies herbalism, and she creates original formulas for natural botanical perfumes.
Reese also designs housewares, home decor, stationery, accessories and a jewelry line. Her handmade chainmaille and gemstone jewelry has won design competitions and has been featured in books and magazines including Dead Sexy: The ‘Walking Dead’ Fan Guide (Riverdale Books) and Woman’s Day magazine. Reese’s designs are available at Glamorosi.com.
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