Member since March 2026
Maria Costanzo Palmer is an author, speaker, home cook, and nonprofit professional. Just last year, she was named one of L.A. Weekly’s “Top 15 Rising Authors to Watch" for her debut co-authored book On the Rocks, which is currently in production to become a movie. Her book even snagged a feature in Forbes as a must-have gift for all those entrepreneurial spirits on your holiday shopping list! The book has receiving critical acclaim for its interesting voice as it is written in the first person narrative in her father's voice. The book has racked in several awards, like the American Bookfest Award for Narrative Nonfiction in 2023, and it even scooped up the 2024 New York Book Festival’s Book of the Year!
From a young child, I have always been an underdog/outcast. I love talking about resiliency, overcoming adversity, surviving and thriving mental health set backs. I also love sharing how food nostalgia fuels my passion for life and what I do currently. Lastly, my love of service and giving back, which includes not only a Service Night that I founded in my community some years ago, but also a Adopt A Family Holiday Gifting Program, which I run from my house every year for children in the city of Paterson, NJ.
Fun Facts About Maria
* She grew up in Pittsburgh in an Italian restaurant, which acted as her third sibling, which brewed jealousy between her and her sister.
*Through college, she worked several jobs. One summer, she held two internships, three paid jobs, and took two college courses.
Maria married her college sweetheart Joe, whom she originally met when they starred in a student music video, “Separate Ways.” In the video, Maria is seen leaving with another suiter, as Joe was late to pick her up for a date. Since then, he hasn’t been late once to pick her up.
*Maria has a degree from each coast, as she did her undergrad work at Syracuse University (Go Orange!) and her graduate work at Pepperdine University.
*Maria, although not blessed with any athletic ability, has run two marathons and dozens of half marathons. In 2010, she blogged about her running experience training for the L.A. Marathon while working at Get on the Bus and raised $10,000 for the organization.
*Every year Maria transforms her basement into Santa’s Workshop collecting presents for hundreds of children in her local community.
*Maria volunteers as a Girl Scout troop leader for both of her children. You can also find her at PTO meetings and volunteering as a class mom in her “free” time.
*Maria throws killer children’s birthday parties with unique themes like goats in pajamas and alpacas doing sidewalk chart art.
*Maria taught her children their address by reworking the lyrics of the Tommy Tutone song “867-5309 / Jenny.” She also remembers all of her old addresses by humming this tune. Luckily, since she’s been with her husband, they’ve only lived places that lyrically worked with the Jenny song!
*Although a former Catholic turned Episcopalian, Maria has a true affinity for nuns. She frequently plays the game “I bet I have more nun contacts in my phone than you have in yours,” which she has successfully won every time.
She loves rescuing pit bulls who were on the to-be-killed list and turning them into high maintenance pooches.
*If Maria has downtime, you can find her out on a hiking trail, doing yoga, or hitting the ski slopes with her family.
Maria Costanzo Palmer turned the worst day of her life- when the Feds knocked on her door looking for her famous restaurateur father into her purpose. In 2023, she penned a best-selling book detailing the rise and fall of her father and family restaurant, and she was named one of L.A. Weekly’s “Top 15 Rising Authors to Watch in 2023.” Her debut book was mentioned in Forbes Magazine in December 2023 as a must-have for the “Entrepreneurial-Spirited People on Your Holiday List.” On the Rocks has won many awards, including the American Bookfest Awards for 2023 in the Narrative Nonfiction category and the 2024 Book of the Year for the New York Book Festival. It has also won second place in the Royal Dragonfly Awards for the Food-Related and Historical Nonfiction categories and third place for the Feathered Quill Book Awards in both the Memoir/Biography and Inspiration Nonfiction categories. She also has been named a Finalist in the Page Turner Awards and Chanticleer Book Awards. Maria’s writing has also been recognized by Gov. Phil Murphy, who sent her a personal commendation letter after her Page Turner nomination. A former host on L.A. Talk Radio, she was recently featured on a number of media appearances including the CBS show The Talk Pittsburgh, Food and Beverage Magazine Live, a local Toyota commercial, and iHeartRadio. For a complete list of media, please visit www.mariacpalmer.com.
She also founded the popular Facebook and Instagram fan page @joecostanzoprimadonna, attracting 30,000 visitors a month with recipes, Italian memes, giveaways, and glimpses into her daily life in the family restaurant business. Through the book, she has also trademarked several foodie experiences- a Cook 'n Book (TM), one part cooking class, one part book discussion over a meal, a pop up restaurant, and the new Cook 'n Book Wine 'n Dine experience, which has a curated wine tasting in the middle of the traditional Cook 'n Book (TM) experience.
Growing up as the oldest child of an award-winning restaurateur, Palmer unexpectedly became a daughter of the incarcerated. This experience ignited an interest in working for Get on the Bus, a nonprofit dedicated to uniting children with their incarcerated parents. Maria credits Get on the Bus for helping her to find her voice. She believed so strongly in this organization that in addition to working for Get on the Bus, she and her husband were volunteers. In 2010, Maria ran the L.A. Marathon and blogged about her training experience, raising close to $10,000 for the organization.
In addition, Maria is a well-known force in the nonprofit world. She has worked on both coasts for organizations that give voice and equity to the marginalized members of society. With a particular soft spot for children with incarcerated parents, Maria has been a prominent voice in the social justice community in California, New York, and New Jersey.
A native of Pittsburgh, PA, Maria holds a bachelor’s degree from Syracuse University in New York and a master’s degree in psychology from Pepperdine University. Pepperdine University recognized her for her service work in both 2011 and 2012. Maria relocated to New Jersey in 2011 and currently serves as the Grant Writer/Development Associate for St. Paul’s Community Development Corporation in Paterson, NJ, an agency that supports over 10,000 individuals in the greater Passaic County area. She lives in New Jersey with her husband Joe, daughters Helena and Josephina, and their rescue dogs Luna and Stella.
Fun Facts About Maria
* She grew up in Pittsburgh in an Italian restaurant, which acted as her third sibling, which brewed jealousy between her and her sister.
*Through college, she worked several jobs. One summer, she held two internships, three paid jobs, and took two college courses.
Maria married her college sweetheart Joe, whom she originally met when they starred in a student music video, “Separate Ways.” In the video, Maria is seen leaving with another suiter, as Joe was late to pick her up for a date. Since then, he hasn’t been late once to pick her up.
*Maria has a degree from each coast, as she did her undergrad work at Syracuse University (Go Orange!) and her graduate work at Pepperdine University.
*Maria, although not blessed with any athletic ability, has run two marathons and dozens of half marathons. In 2010, she blogged about her running experience training for the L.A. Marathon while working at Get on the Bus and raised $10,000 for the organization.
*Every year Maria transforms her basement into Santa’s Workshop collecting presents for hundreds of children in her local community.
*Maria volunteers as a Girl Scout troop leader for both of her children. You can also find her at PTO meetings and volunteering as a class mom in her “free” time.
*Maria throws killer children’s birthday parties with unique themes like goats in pajamas and alpacas doing sidewalk chart art.
*Maria taught her children their address by reworking the lyrics of the Tommy Tutone song “867-5309 / Jenny.” She also remembers all of her old addresses by humming this tune. Luckily, since she’s been with her husband, they’ve only lived places that lyrically worked with the Jenny song!
*Although a former Catholic turned Episcopalian, Maria has a true affinity for nuns. She frequently plays the game “I bet I have more nun contacts in my phone than you have in yours,” which she has successfully won every time.
She loves rescuing pit bulls who were on the to-be-killed list and turning them into high maintenance pooches.
*If Maria has downtime, you can find her out on a hiking trail, doing yoga, or hitting the ski slopes with her family.
Maria Costanzo Palmer turned the worst day of her life- when the Feds knocked on her door looking for her famous restaurateur father into her purpose. In 2023, she penned a best-selling book detailing the rise and fall of her father and family restaurant, and she was named one of L.A. Weekly’s “Top 15 Rising Authors to Watch in 2023.” Her debut book was mentioned in Forbes Magazine in December 2023 as a must-have for the “Entrepreneurial-Spirited People on Your Holiday List.” On the Rocks has won many awards, including the American Bookfest Awards for 2023 in the Narrative Nonfiction category and the 2024 Book of the Year for the New York Book Festival. It has also won second place in the Royal Dragonfly Awards for the Food-Related and Historical Nonfiction categories and third place for the Feathered Quill Book Awards in both the Memoir/Biography and Inspiration Nonfiction categories. She also has been named a Finalist in the Page Turner Awards and Chanticleer Book Awards. Maria’s writing has also been recognized by Gov. Phil Murphy, who sent her a personal commendation letter after her Page Turner nomination. A former host on L.A. Talk Radio, she was recently featured on a number of media appearances including the CBS show The Talk Pittsburgh, Food and Beverage Magazine Live, a local Toyota commercial, and iHeartRadio. For a complete list of media, please visit www.mariacpalmer.com.
She also founded the popular Facebook and Instagram fan page @joecostanzoprimadonna, attracting 30,000 visitors a month with recipes, Italian memes, giveaways, and glimpses into her daily life in the family restaurant business. Through the book, she has also trademarked several foodie experiences- a Cook 'n Book (TM), one part cooking class, one part book discussion over a meal, a pop up restaurant, and the new Cook 'n Book Wine 'n Dine experience, which has a curated wine tasting in the middle of the traditional Cook 'n Book (TM) experience.
Growing up as the oldest child of an award-winning restaurateur, Palmer unexpectedly became a daughter of the incarcerated. This experience ignited an interest in working for Get on the Bus, a nonprofit dedicated to uniting children with their incarcerated parents. Maria credits Get on the Bus for helping her to find her voice. She believed so strongly in this organization that in addition to working for Get on the Bus, she and her husband were volunteers. In 2010, Maria ran the L.A. Marathon and blogged about her training experience, raising close to $10,000 for the organization.
In addition, Maria is a well-known force in the nonprofit world. She has worked on both coasts for organizations that give voice and equity to the marginalized members of society. With a particular soft spot for children with incarcerated parents, Maria has been a prominent voice in the social justice community in California, New York, and New Jersey.
A native of Pittsburgh, PA, Maria holds a bachelor’s degree from Syracuse University in New York and a master’s degree in psychology from Pepperdine University. Pepperdine University recognized her for her service work in both 2011 and 2012. Maria relocated to New Jersey in 2011 and currently serves as the Grant Writer/Development Associate for St. Paul’s Community Development Corporation in Paterson, NJ, an agency that supports over 10,000 individuals in the greater Passaic County area. She lives in New Jersey with her husband Joe, daughters Helena and Josephina, and their rescue dogs Luna and Stella.
