March 01, 2004

By: James Sparks
Website: http://www.1st-in-steaks.com

Lidia's 'Italian-American Kitchen' begins fifth season with popular Italian-American made dishes

The fifth season of the successful series LIDIA’S ITALIAN-AMERICAN KITCHEN continues to present enduringly popular Italian-American cuisine, cultivated from Lidia Bastianich’s repertoire of recipes. Cooking is at the heart of the Italian-American experience and the series presents traditional dishes with origins in authentic regional fare that, throughout the years, were adapted to the modern American palate and pantry. Reminiscent of the early days in her first restaurant, Buonavia, in Queens, New York, Lidia fuses recipes from both past and present into creative Mediterranean dishes and makes them uniquely her own.

Lidia creates popular Italian dishes and their Americanized counterparts, including veal scallopini, lobster fra diavolo and classics like cannelloni and manicotti. Often, these dishes are very different from the traditional dishes she grew up enjoying in northern Italy. Each episode features recipes that combine fresh ingredients that viewers can buy in local markets and utilize the same techniques Lidia has acquired during 40 years of cooking.

Showcasing festive and delicious cuisine, each episode features easy-to-follow recipes presented by a chef who genuinely cares about making good food a part of everyday life. Lidia’s charm, warmth and inviting personality have made the first four seasons of LIDIA’S ITALIAN-AMERICAN KITCHEN a favorite among public television audiences. The Boston Globe called her, “...one of the most appealing cooks on television — charming, warm, immensely skilled and truly Italian.”

LIDIA’S ITALIAN-AMERICAN KITCHEN, taped in Lidia’s home kitchen in Long Island, New York, debuted in September 1998 across the United States. Each show – in both the original and the new season – is packed full of tips, techniques, recipes and remembrances passed on by generations of Lidia’s family.

About The Author:

James Sparks is a successful author and regular contributor to http://www.1st-in-steaks.com.  Great tips on buying top quality meats, steaks and seafood from the finest ranchers and butchers.