Benedetta Vitali has lived and worked all her life in Florence, Italy. In 1979, fresh out of university, she and her then-husband, Fabio Picchi founded the restaurant Cibrèo, with the purpose of offering their fellow Florentines a connection to a traditional Tuscan cooking style that was neglected in the postwar trend of prepackaged and convenience foods. In 1999, Benedetta opened a new restaurant of her own, the Trattoria Zibibbo, emphasizing fresh produce from nearby small farms and gardens. Zibbibo has recieved high praise both in Italy and the U.S. for its authentic Tuscan flavors.

 Benedetta's is the author of Soffrito: Tradition & Innovation in Tuscan Cooking & La Cucina degli Affetti | Catering and Caring: 124 Recipes for Cooking with Love.