Hey, I’m Mark, and I live and breathe food, travel, and adventure. I’m a passionate cook, blogger, food writer, author, and all-around culinary explorer. My journey with food started from the moment I could reach a wooden spoon, growing up in an Italian family where the kitchen was the heart of the home. With roots tracing back to the breathtaking Amalfi Coast, specifically the charming village of Minori, food has always been a way of life. 

Minori is legendary for Italian culinary tradition, a place where some of the greatest chefs, including Jamie Oliver, have come to learn the true art of Italian cooking. My family has always been deeply embedded in this world, with my grandfather working as a chef alongside Gennaro Contaldo, Jamie’s mentor and a family friend. My relative, Ursula Ferrigno, is a renowned Italian chef and author, carrying forward the traditions of authentic Italian cuisine. To say ragu runs in my veins would be an understatement! 

But my love of food isn’t just about perfecting nonna’s recipes—it’s about discovering flavors from all corners of the world. That passion led me to embrace vanlife, converting a campervan into a mobile kitchen and setting off on a mission to explore and share the diverse street food cultures of the world. Whether it’s mastering the art of Japanese tamagoyaki, rolling out fresh gozleme on a grill, or diving deep into the rich spices of Middle Eastern shakshuka, my journey is all about pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in a tiny kitchen. 

This mission became Vanlife Eats—a platform dedicated to showing people that incredible meals aren’t reserved for those with restaurant-grade kitchens. Whether you’re cooking in a campervan, a boat, or a tiny apartment, I teach people how to make mouthwatering dishes with minimal equipment and maximum flavour. My audience isn’t just vanlifers but anyone who embraces the adventure of cooking in unconventional spaces. 

Over the years, my following has grown to a global community, with over 20,000 food-loving adventurers on Instagram and YouTube. I also run my own food festival, the Vanlife Eats Festival, which sells out year after year. My work has taken me to some of the biggest food events in the UK, where I don’t just show up—I bring my love of food to life with high-energy cookery demos, workshops, and engaging storytelling about the incredible dishes I’ve encountered on my travels as well as that “movie scene” Italian lifestyle I was born into.  

And if that wasn’t enough, I’ve taken my knowledge and passion and turned it into the Vanlife Eats Cookery School, where I teach people how to cook like a pro in any space. My first cookbook, Recipes Inspired by Travel and Adventure, is set to launch in February 2025, with a second pasta-focused book hot on its heels.