Lidia Bastianich 674

Lidia Bastianich is one of the best-loved chefs on television, a best-selling cookbook author, restaurateur and owner of a flourishing food and entertainment business. Lidia has married her two passions in life -– her family and food, to create multiple culinary endeavors alongside her two children, Joseph and Tanya.

Her cookbooks include Lidia’s Italy in America, Lidia Cooks from the Heart of Italy and Lidia’s Italy –- all companion books to the television series, “Lidia’s Italy in America” and “Lidia’s Italy” as well as Lidia’s Family Table, Lidia’s Italian- American Kitchen, Lidia’s Italian Table and La Cucina di Lidia. Lidia is the chef/owner of four acclaimed New York City restaurants -- Felidia, Becco, Esca and Del Posto, as well as Lidia’s Pittsburgh and Lidia’s Kansas City. She is also founder and president of Tavola Productions, an entertainment company that produces high-quality broadcast productions.

Along with her son, Joe Bastianich, Mario Batali and Oscar Farinetti, the team opened Eataly, the largest artisanal Italian food and wine marketplace in New York City. The partners have transformed a 42,500 square-foot space in the Flatiron District into New York City’s premier culinary mecca. Lidia has taken her passion for education and enrichment through food, making culinary classes, at La Scuola di Eataly, a defining focus of Eataly.

Last fall, Lidia released her first children’s book, Nonna Tell Me a Story: Lidia’s Christmas Kitchen, inspired by her five grandchildren. Fall of 2010 also marked the debut of Lidia’s Kitchen, an exclusive line of cookware and serving ware for QVC that combines the beauty of Italy with practical functionality. Designed in collaboration with her daughter Tanya, Lidia's Kitchen line includes high quality everyday items such as ceramic serving ware, stone bakeware and utensils. These signature wares will give her fans another opportunity to bring a piece of Lidia to their everyday lives.

Along with her daughter Tanya and son-in-law Corrado Manuali, Lidia launched Nonna Foods as a platform to distribute an array of both existing and new LIDIA’S food products. The line highlights a passion for all things pasta, with seven original varieties of homemade pasta sauce and eight different cuts of pasta, sold nationally. Together with her son Joseph, Lidia also produces award-winning wines at Bastianich Vineyard in Friuli and La Mozza Vineyard in Maremma, Italy.

Lidia gives freely of her time and knowledge, and is active member of society who participates in community service activities and special events on behalf of several foundations and Public Television.