Lidia Celebrates America

Culture Series / 2 Seasons

Lidia Celebrates America: Changemakers, follows Lidia across America as meeting chefs, farmers, and entrepreneurs hard at work trying to change, not only what’s available, but the way Americans think about food in the future. “It’s also critical to remember the energy and water it takes to grow, transport and package the foods we eat”, says Lidia, “We all have the ability to be Changemakers”.

8m 53s

A Simple Wish for a Former Foster Child

5m 29s

Kristen Thomas aged out of the foster care system she grew up in, but went on to foster a child of her own. When the nonprofit One Simple Wish granted Kristin her wish for cooking classes, Lidia supplemented the classes with her own culinary course at Kristen’s home in North Carolina. Watch Lidia and Kristen prepare a Panzanella Salad together, with Brussel sprouts, butternut squash, and kale.

Advocating for Justice After A Wrongful Conviction

6m 35s

Convicted of a crime that he did not commit and sentenced to 28 years in a maximum-security prison Jarrett Adams served nearly 10 years before being exonerated. Adams used the injustice he endured as inspiration to become an advocate and attorney for the underserved. Lidia meets with Jarret virtually to cook one of her favorite pasta recipes, Bucatini with pancetta, tomatoes and onions.

Lidia’s Chopped Salad

2m 7s

In her special Lidia Celebrates America: Overcoming the Odds, as part of the preparation for the final meal, Lidia is joined again by former foster child Kristin Thomas. Together they prepare a Chopped Salad with escarole, chicory, parsley, red onion, roasted red peppers, fennel, mozzarella, and salami. The dressing is comprised of oil, vinegar, mustard, eggs, salt and black pepper.

A Gathering of Truly Inspirational People

2m 15s

As with her other specials, Lidia Celebrates America: Overcoming the Odds culminates with a gesture of food – a gathering of some of the people she has visited along the journey. At Contento, in New York City, Yannick Benjamin’s restaurant profiled in the special, Lidia sits down to eat with these inspiring people, and shares dishes she prepared in their honor.

Harlem Grown, An Oasis In New York City

3m

When Tony Hillery’s business fell apart during the 2008 financial crisis, he began volunteering at a school cafeteria in Harlem, New York. Shocked by what he saw, he founded Harlem Grown, an independent, non-profit organization whose mission is to inspire youth to lead healthy and ambitious lives through mentorship and hands-on education in urban farming, sustainability, and nutrition.

Lidia Celebrates America: A Salute to First Responders

30s

Celebrity Chef Lidia Bastianich travels across the country visiting the men and women serving on the front lines, from firefighters in California battling wildfires, to medical workers fighting the coronavirus pandemic in New York. Lidia meets first responders who’ve worked quietly in the shadows, and now find themselves thrust into the spotlight by crises facing the country in 2020.

A Salute to First Responders Extended Preview

2m 33s

Celebrity Chef Lidia Bastianich travels across the country visiting the men and women serving on the front lines, from firefighters in California battling wildfires, to medical workers fighting the coronavirus pandemic in New York. Lidia meets first responders who’ve worked quietly in the shadows and now find themselves thrust into the spotlight by crises facing the country in 2020.

Lidia's Breakfast Risotto

4m 22s

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.

Chicken Alla Pitocca with Jacob Mual

6m

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.

Jenine Chance and Operation Gratitude

2m 26s

U.S. Army Veteran Jenine Chance lost her brother Jesse 12 years ago in Afghanistan War. Since 2003, she has volunteered with 'Operation Gratitude,' sending care packages to military personnel. She continues this tradition to keep Jesse's memory alive, and now they are also sending care packages to Frontline workers in the U.S. Lidia adds her own letter of thanks to a care package.

Holy Name Medical Center, Teaneck, New Jersey

2m 6s

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.

Eddie McNamara Makes Meatballs

7m 8s

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.

Female Firefighters of the Jersey City Fire Department

3m 19s

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.

FDNY: Emergency Medical Technicians in the South Bronx

2m

Lidia reflects on what it takes to be an Emergency Medical Technician on the front-lines, as she spends time virtually with the Station Chief for Emergency Medical Services, Captain Jennifer Ison, and Lieutenant Dwight Scott of FDNY EMS Station 17 in the South Bronx. The COVID-19 pandemic has made the job of EMT especially challenging.

The Meal at Ironbound Farm

1m 30s

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.

American Spoon Jam

2m 40s

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.

Sara Dahmen Copper

2m 7s

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.

Comal Heritage Food Incubator - Vian

3m

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.

Benton's Smoked Country Ham

2m 50s

In Madisonville, Tennessee, Lidia catches up with Allan Benton, of Benton’s Smoky Mountain Country Hams, who has spent 45 years mastering the art of curing meat and making traditional country ham, slow-smoked bacon and sausage using century-old techniques rather than modern technology—customs that spring from his Appalachian upbringing.

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