It's in the nature of Italians to live life with a positive tone and to celebrate the invitations that come along in life. Italian food is so conducive to all of that. Lidia Bastianich More Quotes by Lidia Bastianich More Quotes From Lidia Bastianich Lambruscos have been misrepresented by industrial versions that have the soda pop flavor they think Americans want. Lidia Bastianich soda-pop flavor thinking Today's innovation is tomorrow's tradition. Lidia Bastianich innovation tomorrow today Holidays - any holiday - are such a great opportunity to focus on bringing the family together. Lidia Bastianich family focus together opportunity Traditions are our roots and a profile of who we are as individuals and who we are as a family. They are our roots, which give us stability and a sense of belonging - they ground us. Lidia Bastianich us belonging family roots As a chef, I feel that it is my duty to make the most of what the earth gives us. Lidia Bastianich feel duty earth chef Eating well, being around the table with the family or friends or relatives - it doesn't get any better. Lidia Bastianich better friends family eating Make gifts meaningful by putting the time in creating them, whether baking and cooking, or in making arts and craft. It will all have more meaning for the giver and receiver. Lidia Bastianich meaning baking cooking time When I say, 'Everybody to the table and eat,' I mean it. That is the glue, the center that holds the family, that gives security. Good food brings everybody to the table. Lidia Bastianich good good-food family food Italian food really reflects the people. It reflects like a prism that fragments into regions. Lidia Bastianich like italian-food food people When you are the host, you have to take the party into your hands like a conductor. Lidia Bastianich your you party hands Italian food is seasonal. It is simple. It is nutritionally sound. It is flavorful. It is colorful. It's all the things that make for a good eating experience, and it's good for you. Lidia Bastianich good experience simple food I think that lunch is one of the most enjoyable and important things in the day. But you need to create the space and the time to do just that. And in Italy, we do that. Lidia Bastianich day you lunch time With the Industrial Revolution, the production of food was delegated to big companies in order for women and men to be in the labour force, to come home, stick something in the oven, and eat. It became a big industry that does not have a love affair with food nor is really concerned about nurturing you or giving you the right nutrition. Lidia Bastianich women food love men Vin brule is a version of mulled wine enjoyed in Piemonte, in northwestern Italy. It's a perfect choice for holiday entertaining because you can double or even triple the recipe and leave it over very low heat, ladling it out as your guests come in from the cold. Lidia Bastianich you holiday wine perfect When you invite friends over, especially for food, with the food you want to send out a message of affection, of appreciation, of celebration. But also of culture - who your family is. Lidia Bastianich you family food appreciation You can freeze a nice sponge cake and then have a strawberry shortcake any time. Lidia Bastianich you cake nice time Eating is something we all have to do. When we sit down at the table, we nurture ourselves, and hence, all our resistance goes away. We are open to receiving good and taking it in with gusto and pleasure. Lidia Bastianich down good pleasure eating Food is culture. Food is an identity, a footprint of who you are. Lidia Bastianich you identity food culture By cooking with your kids, you can help them understand that food is a powerful tool in connecting human beings. Lidia Bastianich understand you cooking food My grandmother had a courtyard of animals, like goats and chickens. She made ricotta cheese, cooked with potatoes warm from the garden, grew everything from beans to wheat. It was simple, seasonal food, and we all ate what was produced 10 miles from where we lived. It was that way for centuries. Lidia Bastianich garden simple food way