Dallamy has beautiful memories of her childhood in Cuba where she played on the beach and in the fruit orchards. Her parents were separated, so she grew up with her mother and her siblings. Her father was a school teacher who was going to school for his doctorate. He urged Dallamy to pursue higher education, so she began a teaching program and was well on her way to receive a federal scholarship. In her last year of school Dallamy decided instead to move to the United States with her then partner.

Muriel Stevens (1925-2016) is a former newspaper columnist, author, chef, and radio and television host. Born December 22, 1925 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, she moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1954. Stevens is known for her radio and television shows, which focused on food, nutrition, and consumer issues. She hosted a one hour daily radio talk show for eight years before moving to television, where celebrity guests joined her on The Muriel Stevens Show to cook their favorite meals.