About

Hello, I’m Tony.

You’re in the right place if you’re looking for a resource to help navigate the ups and downs of life, a place where you can find relatable content and useful information on topics that matter to you.

I had the good fortune of growing up in a close-knit Italian American family, in Southwestern Pennsylvania. I grew up with pasta dinners at 2:00 every Sunday afternoon at my grandparents’ house with my family and my uncle’s family. But it was from spending time with my mother in the kitchen, watching her cook and bake, that I developed a love for cooking. Here at Tony Tested, I share how to cook many of the Italian dishes I grew up with as well as many of my other favorites.

For about a dozen years, I was a single dad raising my son who is now a college freshman. Most of those years were spent driving him to practice and games, and nagging him to do homework or work a vegetable into his diet.

In January 2020, the love of my life, Michelle and I bought a fixer-upper on eight wooded acres. I never thought I’d own a chainsaw or a riding mower, but now I have both. Amongst the many projects I’ve completed on the house, I’ve gutted and completely renovated a powderroom, and I’ve dug a 150-foot trench by hand (I would not recommend). I’ve learned a lot about renovating a house and developed skills I never knew I had. I will share the lessons I’ve learned with you, and take you along as I tackle new projects around the house.

In my spare time, I’m an artist. I create abstract paintings using an ancient technique called encaustic that involves painting multiple layers of molten beeswax onto a surface and fusing the layers together with a blowtorch. It’s dangerous and beautiful. I’ve won a few awards and exhibited in several states. I believe having a creative outlet is imperative to a person’s wellbeing.

After years of effort (and some luck), I finally feel like I’ve created the life I’ve always wanted, and I’m here to share my experiences and insights in the hopes of connecting with and supporting people seeking the same. What I lack in professional credentials, I make up for in life experiences.

Thank you for being here.