Annette Joseph is a food stylist, interior prop stylist, and producer for local and national design magazines. A self-described collector of beautiful objects, she is known for sourcing unique finds, editing spaces, and creating homes that feel both elegant and inviting.
Raised in an immigrant Hungarian family, Annette was immersed in European traditions of food, art, and entertaining from an early age. Her father, a master-trained oil painter and accomplished cook, introduced her to lighting, composition, cooking, and the joy of hosting. Weekend shopping trips together fostered a lifelong passion for beauty and storytelling through objects. Her maternal grandmother, famous for hosting lavish dinner parties from a tiny cottage kitchen, further shaped Annette’s love of gathering and hospitality—memories she continues to recreate in her work today.
Annette is the author of several books, beginning with Picture Perfect Parties (2014), which shows readers how to entertain with style, creativity, and confidence—without overspending. Her award-winning Cocktail Italiano (2018) is part travelogue, part cocktail and recipe book, inspired by her 12 years living on the Italian Riviera.
Annette owns La Fortezza, a restored medieval fortress on 27 acres in northern Tuscany. There, she hosts a variety of themed retreats centered on slow food, cooking, shopping with local purveyors, and immersive Italian living. La Fortezza features a kitchen garden, rose garden, and vineyard.
A sought-after speaker, Annette has presented at the Atlanta Merchandise Mart, High Point Market, and Dallas Market, and has collaborated with brands including Vietri, West Elm, Ballard Designs, Home Depot, Martini, Mutti, and Minted. She has been featured on the Today Show and other national media outlets.
Her additional books include Italy Is My Boyfriend (2020), My Italian Guestbook (2022), and, At the Table of La Fortezza (2022), the first U.S.-published cookbook dedicated to the Lunigiana region of northern Tuscany. Check out her latest cookbook The Sweet Life at La Fortezza, an Italian Desserts Cookbook, (2025). She also hosts a YouTube channel highlighting regional recipes and culture. Her newest release is her first work of fiction, The Killer Menu (2024).
When not in Tuscany teaching, cooking, and tending her vineyard, Annette lives in Atlanta with her mini dachshund, Lucy.
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