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Converted from paper version of the Broad Ripple Gazette (v10n04)
The Wine Scene - by Jill A. Ditmire
posted: Feb. 22, 2013

Wine Scene header

Love from Lidia: Lesson 101
    and more to come!

Most people know Lidia Bastianich from watching her PBS series "Lidia's Italy". Or cooking with her QVC line of bakeware. Or adding her Italian inspired line of food products to meals. Or dining at one of her 6 restaurants across the US. Or doing all of the above at her Shangri-La for Italian wanna be's and buys at "Eataly" in NYC . Plus she blogs and travels with consumers via her daughter Tonya's business. And her son Joe is running the thriving family wine business from her home land. And THEN there are her cook books....
When you go to her website www.lidiasitaly.com it is mind boggling at all of the things that this talented woman accomplishes. AND she blogs!
But meet her in person and you know why. She truly DOES love to cook. And what you see/bake/eat/visit/read from her culinary empire IS the real deal. Because it all IS Lidia. I had the pleasure of meeting and interviewing her last week when she made her first visit to Indianapolis. And it was a whirlwind. And I got her in the eye of her Indy visit hurricane.
She arrived on Thursday to lunch with local restaurant owners and sample them on her family's line of wines. (Bastianich Winery in Friuli region of Italy. Old world grapes blended with new world vines. Affordable. Made for food. And coming SOON to Indianapolis!! As soon as I can taste them, I will review and let you know when and where you can buy.) Then a meet and greet cooking demo for WFYI viewers/listeners at Clark's Appliance. Friday meant more interviews, photos and another VIP reception. Then it was off to Ontario, Canada.
And she smiled the entire time!
I asked her a plethora of questions all of which she delightedly and detailed for me in response. I don't want to use this entire issue to relate, so I will edit my column this week and continue to the next with highlights of this engaging conversation with this sincere and talented cook. AND probably what she wants to be known for most, as a loving and nurturing Nonna. Italian for "grandma". Lidia celebrates her 65th birthday this month and is letting her 5 grandchildren call the shots. So what are they doing? Taking her to Anguilla where they don't want Nonna to cook but rather to spend time with them. She said that will be hard to do as she loves to go into the kitchen wherever she goes and when a new cuisine is presented, she wants to taste and learn how and where and why it developed.
She said she loves the energy of Indianapolis and its food scene. She thought the people she met were very friendly. One of her 6 restaurants is also in the Midwest, Kansas City, so she talked much about the delightful and delicious game in this area that can readily be incorporated into her easy to make, wonderful to eat dishes in her latest cookbook, Lidia's Favorites. She said staples in every kitchen to make ANYTHING taste great should include virgin olive oil, onions, garlic and dried legumes.
She said that introducing those aromas and flavors are important for all families. For the adults and the children. She said the sooner babies learn to smell and know the aromas of foods, such as vegetables-the easier it will be when they start to eat them.
Lidia came to America when she was 12 and both of her parents worked. She said her mother always started something simmering on the stove in the morning but told HER how to finish it when she and the rest of the family came home. This made Lidia learn how to cook and appreciate time, energy, and food. She says even in the 21st century whirlwind world we can do that too and teach our children the same lessons. All of which lead to more self confidence...and better meals on the table.
"Everybody to the Table"! More next issue.. In the meantime please enjoy www.lidiasitaly.com and www.bastianich.com



Jill A. Ditmire is an Omnimedia wine specialist, AWS certified wine judge, freelance broadcast journalist and 20+ year home owner in the Warfleigh neighborhood of Broad Ripple. Send your questions and comments to Jill at jill@broadripplegazette.com
Also on INSTAGRAM @jaditmire




jill@broadripplegazette.com
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