Lidia Bastianich is the author of three previous books: La Cucina di Lidia and the best-selling Lidia’s Italian Table and Lidia’s Italian-American Kitchen–also the names of her nationally syndicated public television series. She is the owner of the very successful New York City restaurant Felidia, as well as Becco, Esca, and Lidia’s in Pittsburgh and Kansas City, and she gives lectures on Italian cuisine throughout the country. She lives on Long Island in New York.