Lidia Bastianich, the reigning queen of Italian cuisine in America, is a confident entrepreneur who trusts her beliefs and knowledge about food. She represents her heritage with pride, and seeks to preserve that heritage through her restaurants, cookbooks, television series, and products. For Lidia, cooking is about selecting a few seasonal ingredients and making them shine. She understands and respects each ingredient. But her passion transcends the kitchen – she is committed to giving back to the community, both locally and globally, through her foundation and other philanthropic efforts.