Lidia's Italy profile picture

Lidia's Italy

Tutti a tavola mangiare! Everyone to the table to eat!

About Me


I was born Lidia Motika circa 1946 in the Istrian city of Pula, Croatia (then Yugoslavia.) My family name was changed to Maticchio under Mussolini's Fascist Italian dictatorship between the two world wars, then changed back to Motika under Tito's Yugoslav dictatorship. My family and I left Istria, for Trieste, Italy, when I was ten years old and lived in a refugee camp for some months, but then took employment as domestics for a wealthy Triestin family until we gained visas to emigrate to the U.S. in 1958.
I then married Felice (aka Felix) Bastianich, a fellow Istrian, in 1966 when I was 19, and we built a restaurant empire together. We divorced after 31 years of marriage and 2 children. After a brief attempt to change my professional name to Moticchia, I now retain the married name which is widely known in the culinary industry. My son and daughter are now in business with me.
I am the co-owner of "Felidia" and "Becco" and "Esca" restaurants in New York and "Lidia's" in Kansas City as well as "Lidia's Pittsburgh" (opened in 2002), as well as the host of my own TV cooking show called Lidia's Italian-American Kitchen, a 52-part PBS series. I am the author of three cookbooks whose titles paralleled my long running TV series. I am also the owner of various commercial enterprises that are linked to food, cooking and travel.
I am a naturalized citizen of the U.S.A. and have always considered myself an Italian national even though I do not have Italian ancestry. Rather, a good part of my ancestry is mixed Istrian, including Istro-Romanian on my mother's side, if not both. There is even evidence that I have Croatian ancestry.
I also have a new show called, "Lidia's Family Table" that currently screens on the Food Network channel. Thank you all for your support through the years...

My Interests

Lidia's Veal Marsala
Ingredients: 8 pieces medallions of veal Salt and pepper 1 cup unbleached flour 1/3 cup vegetable oil 1 stick butter 2 tbs. shallots, finely chopped 2 cups mushrooms (shiitake, fresh porcini, champignons), cleaned and sliced 1/2 cup dry marsala wine 1/2 cup chicken stock 2 tbs. parsley, chopped
Directions: Lightly salt and pepper the veal, dredge it in flour and shake the excess off.
In a wide skillet, heat the vegetable oil until it is hot but not smoking.
Sauté the floured veal on both sides until golden and set on a plate.
Drain the oil off and return to fire.
Add half of the butter and the shallots.
Cook for a few minutes until wilted, add mushrooms, salt and pepper and sauté over medium heat until all water has evaporated from the mushrooms, approximately 10 minutes.
Add marsala wine and let cook until all alcohol has evaporated or burned off, approximately 7 minutes.
Add the remaining butter and chicken stock, bring all to a vigorous boil and season with salt and pepper.
When half boiled down, add meat and let simmer for 5 minutes.
Add parsley and serve.

I'd like to meet:

You!

Television:

Lidia's Italian-American Kitchen and Lidia's Family Table

Books:

Lidia's Family Table, Lidia's Italian-American Kitchen, Lidia's Italian Table

My Blog

Ricotta Cheesecake

Ricotta CheesecakeTorta Di Ricotta3 ½ cups ricotta cheese½ cup raisins3 tablespoons dark rumSoftened butter and fine dry bread crumbs for the pan5 large eggs, separated3/4 cup sugarPinch saltGrated ze...
Posted by Lidia's Italy on Tue, 13 Feb 2007 08:13:00 PST

Escarole and White Bean Soup

Escarole and White Bean SoupZuppa di Escarola e CannelliniIn the ideal world, you'll think about making this soup the day before, or at least several hours in advancetime enough to soak and cook the ...
Posted by Lidia's Italy on Tue, 13 Feb 2007 08:16:00 PST

Chicken Bites with Potato, Sausages and Vinegar

Chicken Bites with Potato, Sausages and VinegarBocconcini Di Pollo Con Patate E Salsicce2 frying chickens (about 3 pounds each and preferably free-range)¼ cup extra virgin olive oil½ pound sweet Itali...
Posted by Lidia's Italy on Tue, 13 Feb 2007 08:19:00 PST