Lidia Bastianich is an Emmy award-winning public television host, a best-selling cookbook author, restaurateur, and owner of a flourishing food and entertainment business. Lidia has married her two passions in life – her family and food, to create multiple culinary endeavors alongside her two children, Joseph and Tanya.

Lidia's cookbooks, co-authored with her daughter Tanya, include Lidia's Mastering the Art of Italian Cuisine, Lidia's Commonsense Italian Cooking, Lidia's Favorite Recipes, Lidia's Italy in America, Lidia Cooks from the Heart of Italy, and Lidia's Italy -- all companion books to the Emmy winning and three time nominated television series Lidia's Kitchen, Lidia's Italy in America and Lidia's Italy. Lidia's series air internationally with territories including Mexico, Canada, Middle East, Croatia and the UK. Lidia has also published Lidia's Family Table, Lidia's Italian-American Kitchen, Lidia's Italian Table, and La Cucina di Lidia.

Lidia is the chef/owner of four acclaimed New York City restaurants - Felidia, Becco, Esca and Del Posto, as well as Lidia's Pittsburgh and Lidia's Kansas City along with her daughter Tanya. She is also founder and president of Tavola Productions, an entertainment company that produces high quality broadcast productions. In 2014, three Tavola productions--Lidia's Kitchen, Lidia Celebrates America, and Amy Thielen's Heartland Table on the Food Network--were nominated for a James Beard award. Lidia also has a line of pastas and all natural sauces called LIDIA'S.

Along with her son, Joe Bastianich, Mario Batali, and Oscar Farinetti, the team opened Eataly, the largest artisanal Italian food and wine marketplace in New York City, Chicago and Sao Paolo, Brazil. A second New York location, along with marketplaces in Boston and Los Angeles, will open in 2016.

Lidia's first children's book, Nonna Tell Me a Story: Lidia's Christmas Kitchen, was inspired by her five grandchildren. The second installation in the series, Lidia's Family Kitchen: Nonna's Birthday Surprise, was released in the Spring of 2013, and her third was released in January 2015. Lidia gives freely of her time and knowledge, and is an active member of society who participates in community service activities and special events on behalf of several foundations and Public Television.