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You may know her as the host of the Emmy-nominated Lidia’s Italy on PBS, the author of several bestselling cookbooks, or the owner of highly regarded Italian restaurants like Felidia and Del Posto, which was recently awarded four stars by The New York Times. But Lidia Bastianich is more than a world-class chef and a beloved television personality. She’s also a mother of two and grandmother of five, who are frequently featured in her work.
And for Bastianich and her loved ones, there are few more important days than Christmas, a time for passing on cultural traditions, bonding among the generations, and lots of home-prepared food. "The holidays," she said in a recent interview with Grandparents.com. "We need it to be together. Everybody’s longing to get back to the table."
That’s why Bastianich is sharing Nonna Tell Me a Story: Lidia’s Christmas Kitchen with her many fans. The 30-minute DVD special bounces back and forth in time between Bastianich’s childhood Christmases in Trieste, Italy, and a present-day gathering with her five grandchildren – Ethan, Olivia, Miles, Julia, and Lorenzo. "I think it's important that children today focus on generations and respect," she says of the decade-hopping approach.
The contrasts in the then-and-now holidays are manifold, but the warm sentiment and strong family bonds are consistent through the years. For example, in the cheerfully animated Italy sequences, we see a young Bastianich and her brother Franco decorate the family’s juniper bush for their Nonna (grandmother) Rosa. Meanwhile, in the present-day segments, she reads, sings, and bonds with her own grandchildren. And yes, that’s really her crooning: “That song I sung with my mother, too.”
Of course, it wouldn't be a Lidia Bastianich special without mouthwatering food, and she makes sure the grandkids have a chance to participate. “When they make plates after plates of things that they decorated, they really feel proud,” she says of the cookie recipes the children eagerly – and skillfully – prepare. Bastianich even lets them experiment with their own Christmas creations. "They come up with new food and I think it's great," she says. "And this is how they learn basic flavors."
That learning, along with sharing the knowledge of past generations, is what makes the holidays so special for Bastianich and her family. "Most [important] of all is that development and getting back to the table," she says of Christmas. "It's magical."
Make Lidia's Linguine With White Clam Sauce
In celebration of the season, Lidia is sharing one of her favorite pasta dishes with Grandparents.com readers: Linguine with White Clam Sauce. Continue to the recipe here.
Win a Collection of Lidia's DVDs
PBS and Grandparents.com are also giving away a collection of three Lidia DVDs to five lucky readers. Each will receive a copy of:
The Best of Lidia: Pasta
Lidia Celebrates America: Holiday Tables & Traditions
Nonna Tell Me a Story: Lidia’s Christmas Kitchen
Just send your name, address, e-mail address, and phone number to lidia@grandparents.com by Thursday, December 15. We’ll draw five winners, and send each all three DVDs. One entry per household, please. Enter to win now »
Find more festive holiday ideas at Grandparents.com:
Photo credit: Christopher Hirscheimer
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