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Lives built around food and family
Elena
Julio
Growing up in Clinton, Connecticut, restaurants were always a part of my life. My parents owned Enzo’s New York Style Apizza and Country Garden Restaurant, giving me an early connection to the industry and the people who make it special.
I started working in restaurants at 12 as a busser at TNT Restaurant in Old Saybrook and continued growing through roles at Denny’s and Pat’s Kountry Kitchen. I eventually stepped away from the industry to pursue a career as a paralegal, but after three years in the legal field, I realized my heart belonged where it had always been: in restaurants.
Returning to the industry brought new friendships, unforgettable experiences, and the nickname “Bella,” a name my father had always called me and one that stayed with me for nearly a decade at Penny Lane Pub in Old Saybrook.
Through every chapter, one thing has never changed: I love food, and I love people. To me, feeding someone is one of the simplest and most meaningful ways to show love. It’s about more than what ’s on the plate. It’s about the people across the table, the conversations shared, and the relationships built along the way.
I love what I do. This one’s for my dad.
I came to the United States at 14, and by 16, I had my first job as a dishwasher. That was where my journey in the restaurant industry began.
Over the years, my passion for food grew into a deep respect for the craft and the traditions behind it. I was inspired by the incredible food my grandmother and mother created and became determined to understand not only how to cook, but the roots and traditions of Peruvian cuisine.
Throughout my career, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside talented chefs and in respected kitchens, including working under Gordon Ramsay at The London NYC in 2007 and at J Restaurant & Bar in Connecticut in 2010. In 2017, I opened Canggio Restaurant alongside my father, Jose Cancho, and uncle, Cesar Viggio, bringing together my love of food, family, and Peruvian tradition.
My journey has also taken me beyond the kitchen, with appearances on Food Network’s Chopped and Man v. Food, as well as local cooking segments on FOX 61.
Through it all, I’ve learned one simple truth: no one can cook quite like Grandma. Rather than trying to recreate her cooking, I choose to tell those memories through my food. Every dish is a tribute to where I came from, the people who taught me, and the traditions that continue to inspire me.
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