Marina Ubaldi Ritter & Lucinda Zoe

Marina Ubaldi Ritter began work at Alfalfa restaurant in the fall of 1973 and within a short time transitioned from the wait staff to the kitchen, and finally became one of the owners in 1974. Together with her partners, she oversaw the evolution of the restaurant from a simple two entrée food service establishment, to one that offered unique vegetarian and meat dishes, rotating specials, International and tribute nights, weekend brunches and a complete beer and wine list. She was highly supportive of the cultural arts—fine art, music and poetry—and recruited musicians to play for nighttime diners, artists to display their creative works on the restaurant walls, and poet-authors to mesmerize loyal customers with their words. Prior to her work on the Alfalfa book, she enjoyed a professional career in orthopedic physical therapy that lasted 30 years. After retirement, Marina moved back home to Louisville, KY with her husband and two dogs. She now appreciates the rich Louisville arts and culture scene and relishes its vibrant dining options. 

 

Lucinda Zoe is an Eastern Kentucky native and transplanted southerner who moved from Kentucky to New York City in 1989. A librarian and archivist by training, a chef by desire, and a retired academic, her fields of study and literary interests are in philosophy, ancient manuscripts, southern culture and the culinary arts. She has written and produced numerous plays and monologues both in Kentucky and New York. Things that Remain, a collection of poetry, was published in 2025 (Ballerini Book Press, Luzern, Switzerland) and her work has appeared in various literary and academic journals. In 2026, she co-authored a cookbook and social history, Life, Art, Community and Cookery: Stories and Recipes from Alfalfa Restaurant (Butler Books and Institute 193, Kentucky) She came to Alfalfa in the summer of 1977, working first as wait staff and then exclusively as a cook until 1987. She divides her time between New York City and a home in upstate New York in the Catskills Mountains where she pursues her first loves and great passions — cooking, travel and writing.