“I'll get home from work on Friday night and take out some beans and soak them. The next morning, I'll put them in a pot for soup, then just keep chopping, chopping, chopping - carrots and celery and cabbage - and in two or three hours, you have this wonderful, mellow soup that fills up the whole house with its aroma.”

American celebrity chef, television host, author, and restaurateur

Lidia Bastianich is an American celebrity chef, television host, author, and restaurateur. She is known for her work with Italian and Italian-American cuisine, and for her long presence on public television cooking programs. Since 1998, she has been a regular contributor to public television cooking shows. Her public profile is built around food, teaching, and sharing the traditions of Italian cooking with a wide audience.