Food Diplomacy

“Lidia is an immigrant to this country who is living the American dream,” President & CEO of Corporation for Public Broadcasting Pat Harrison said about Lidia Bastianich when introducing her at a dinner at The Library of Congress in her honor called Lidia Celebrates America: Salute to Heroes. “She’s an internationally known chef, an award-winning public television host, a best-selling cookbook author who runs a culinary empire including Eataly and renowned restaurants from New York City to Kansas City. She is CEO of Tavola Productions, producing programs such as Lidia’s Kitchen and Lidia Celebrates America which are continually nominated for a James Beard Award. But Lidia was not always a chef, author and entrepreneur. The journey was that of an immigrant, defined by hardship and patience. Lidia and her family spent two years in a former Nazi concentration camp in Trieste while waiting to come to this country. I visited that camp with Lidia and it was no place to raise children.” The event was co-hosted by Jon Abbott, President and CEO WGBH and Dr. Carla Hayden, Librarian of Congress.