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Lunch with Lidia

My pal Radzilla was kind enough to score us some tix to see one of our favorite culinary icons, Lidia Matticchio Bastianich.

I love her because she reminds me so much of my Italian aunt in Rome. I also love that her rustic, unpretentious recipes are accessible to every kind of cook. No one does simple, Italian comfort food better. And she's just as real in person as she seems to be on tv. 

I told her that I grew up watching PBS cooking shows (Julia Child and Jacques Pepin) and that now my daughter and I watch her together. She loved that we're sharing experience. "Cook with your children," she said. "Take fresh herbs and hold them up to your daughter's nose and tell her what everything is." Great advice for all parents.

Here's the day in pictures:

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The menu.

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The antipasti. Yum!

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The main course. Blurry. :(

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Dessert. A cannoli decontructed.

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May 02, 2007 in Chefs/Cooks/Culinary Professionals, Cookbooks/Food Writing |

Tags: lidia bastianich, lidia's italy

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  • All-Clad cookware
    I use the stainless line. I love it because you can put it in the dishwasher. If you like to cook it is sooo worth it to have quality pots and pans. I recommend buying a set on sale and then filling in extras as you need them. (Watch for sales and specials.)
  • Cast Iron Skillet
    Please get rid of all your teflon-coated non-stick plans and get a cast iron skillet. I use mine for searing meat, poultry, and fish and then finishing off in the oven. In fact, get two cast iron skillets—one large enough to hold two ribeyes and a smaller, fried-egg-sized one for making...well...eggs.
  • Food Processor
    Quickly slice/shred veggies and cheese, make hummus or other spreads in a snap, and make pie crust without making a mess.
  • Global Knives
    I am partial to the 18 incher. Yep, I like big knives and I cannot lie. If you like to cook (or even if you don't) you deserve to have good knives. At least one.
  • Instant Hot Water Dispenser
    If you can't afford to have one built-in, this is a great alternative. It's nice to have boiling water at the push of a button to make tea, instant miso soup, or morning oatmeal for the kidlets.
  • Microplane Grater/Zester
    Use this to grate citrus zest, nutmeg, and cheese. You could get a coarser one, but you don't need to. I have one and I use it for everything.
  • Penzey's Spices
    A great resource for all your herb and spice needs.
  • Rice Cooker
    Every family should have one.
  • Silpat
    Silpat is a silicone mat used for baking. They come in various sizes. Items will not stick to it. It is a must for any home baker.
  • Stick or Immersion Blender
    It doesn't have to be fancy, but try and get the highest HP you can afford. I use my stick blender (+ attachments) for making salad dressing (weekly), pureeing soups, making babyfood, and whipping cream.

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