Lidia Celebrates America

Sisters Connie and Francesca Zapella are firewomen in the Jersey City Fire Department. They talk with Lidia about what it's like to be female in a male-dominated profession.

Jacob Mual was a chef for 22 years, but in 2015 he started volunteering with the local fire department. Over a Zoom call, Lidia oversees, as Jacob prepares Chicken Alla Pitocca, a recipe she's contributing to the cookbook he's writing. Jacob talks with Lidia about how firefighters cook for each other at the stations, and what it's like to risk your life for a job.

Chef, cookbook author, and former police officer Eddie McNamara talks with Lidia about his experience working during the aftermath of 9/11, and how cooking has helped him through the PTSD that he's suffered as a result. As Lidia watches via zoom, Eddie prepares his special meatballs, which she is then able to taste, since he has had some delivered to her house.

Chief Nursing Officer at Holy Name Medical Center, in Teaneck, NJ, Michele Acito, and Staff Photographer Jeff Rhode talk about what happened when the number of COVID-19 patients coming into the hospital exceeded capacity. In just five days, and with everybody including nurses and janitors pitching in to help, a 36-bed ICU was constructed on the premises.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Lidia is not able to invite all the first responders she met to a celebratory meal, as is traditional for her Specials. Instead, she prepares her Breakfast Risotto, a delicious comfort-food that she sends as a thank you to each of the first responders that she met during filming. Watch as Lidia prepares the recipe in her home kitchen.

Watch the preview for Lidia Celebrates America: The Return of the Artisans. Join Lidia Bastianich this holiday season, as the renowned chef, author and food ambassador journeys across the country to explore how food artisans and artisanal crafts are gaining momentum in the U.S.

Lidia hosts a dinner at Ironbound Farm in Asbury Township, New Jersey in celebration of the Artisans who opened their doors, and their lives to show Lidia how food artisans and artisanal crafts are gaining momentum in the U.S. After a beautiful rendition of 'Amazing Grace', performed by Ironbound employees, Lidia raises her glass in a toast.

In Denver, Colorado, Lidia pays a visit to the Comal Heritage Food Incubator, where budding chefs can take their family recipes and elevate them for public consumption through a restaurant and catering business. Vian Al Nidawi, an Iraqi-Syrian refugee, is on the line as the lead chef.

Sara Dahmen at House Copper in Grafton Village, Wisconsin is one of the only female coppersmiths in the world. She created her own apprenticeship opportunity by reaching out to a local craftsman preserving a dying art—creating tin, iron and copper cookware using centuries-old techniques.

Lidia takes a tour of American Spoon Jam, in Petoskey, Michigan. American Spoon offers a rigorous training program to teach workers how to produce the finest fruit preserves while remaining committed to using centuries-old cooking techniques.

In Petoskey, Michigan, Lidia joins Justin Rashid foraging for mushrooms with his grandson. Justin was a pioneer in the American farm-to-table movement.

In Denver, Colorado, Lidia pays a visit to the Comal Heritage Food Incubator, where budding chefs can take their family recipes and elevate them for public consumption through a restaurant and catering business. Erika Rojas is a recent graduate of the program who has started her own food truck business.