Emmy-Winning Chef Lidia Bastianich to Share Behind-the-Scenes Stories at The MAC

Emmy Award-winning chef Lidia Bastianich comes to the McAninch Arts Center at College of DuPage to share behind-the-scenes stories from her popular PBS show "Lidia's Kitchen," provide an insider's view of the nuances, twists and turns of the restaurant business, and talk about her newest book, "Celebrate like an Italian," in a foodie's must-see event Thursday, Nov. 9 at 7 p.m. WBEZ reporter Monica Eng will moderate. A book signing in the MAC lobby will follow.

"Celebrate like an Italian" is coauthored with her daughter Tanya who is also involved with the production of "Lidia's Kitchen." The book features 220 recipes for entertaining like a true Italian and also includes Lidia's suggestions for hosting guests such choosing the perfect wine and setting an inviting table. Other of Bastianich's cookbooks include "Lidia's Favorite Recipes," "Lidia's Italy in America," "Lidia Cooks from the Heart of Italy" and "Lidia's Italy."

Bastianich made her debut on public television in 1998 with her show "Lidia's Italian Table." She went on to host "Lidia's Family Table," "Lidia's Italy," "Lidia's Italy in America" and "Lidia's Kitchen." In 2013, Lidiawon the Emmy Award for "Outstanding Culinary Host."

Bastianich is the founder and president of Tavola Productions, an entertainment focused broadcast production. She is also the chef and owner of four restaurants in New York City - Felidia, Becco, Esco and Del Posto. In 2010 she also opened Eataly, the largest artisanal Italian food and wine marketplace along with her son, Joe Bastianich, Mario Batali and Oscar Farinetti. Eataly currently has locations in New York City, Chicago, Sao Paolo, and Boston.

McAninch Arts Center located at 425 Fawell Blvd. on the campus of College of DuPage, presents "LidiaBastianich"- Thursday Nov. 9 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $39-$75 Gold Circle (Gold Circle includes signed book). For tickets or more information visit AtTheMAC.org or call 630-942-4000.

McAninch Arts Center (MAC) at College of DuPage, located 25 miles west of Chicago near I-88 and I-355, houses three indoor performance spaces (the 780-seat proscenium Belushi Performance Hall; the 236-seat soft-thrust Playhouse Theatre; and the versatile black box Studio Theatre), the outdoor Lakeside Pavilion, plus the Cleve Carney Art Gallery, classrooms for the college's academic programming and. The MAC has presented theater, music, dance and visual art to more than 1.5 million people since its opening in 1986 and typically welcomes more than 75,000 patrons from the greater Chicago area to more than 230 performances each season.

The mission of the MAC is to foster enlightened educational and performance opportunities, which encourage artistic expression, establish a lasting relationship between people and art, and enrich the cultural vitality of the community. For more information visit AtTheMAC.org, facebook.com/AtTheMAC or twitter.com/AtTheMAC.

To post a comment, you must register and login.