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

Mushrooms on the Mother Fire

1m 15s

At Ironbound Farm in Asbury Township, New Jersey, Head Chef, Gunnar Bentley, shows Lidia how to cook mushrooms as well as chicken on what they call the “mother fire,” an incredible 30-foot-tall outdoor grill. Opened as a cidery only a few years ago, the Farm has a big mission: training members of chronically underemployed populations with valuable farming skills to bring back to their communities.

Lidia Celebrates America: The Return of the Artisans Preview

1m 23s

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.

Comal Heritage Food Incubator - Erika

2m 53s

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.

Herrera Barrel Making

2m 1s

In Napa Valley, California, Lidia meets Ramiro Herrera, one of only a few dozen master coopers in the world. Herrera, of Caldwell Vineyard shows Lidia how he assembles American oak into barrels by hand, and also demonstrates the complex art of toasting a barrel.

Lidia makes Tamales in Texas

1m 58s

At Milpa’s Kitchen, in Denton, TX, Lidia connects with owner Jorge Landeros and his cousin Cecilia. Together they make some of the legendary tamales that Milpa's is known for. In her latest special A Heartland Holiday Feast, Lidia Bastianich travels cross-country meeting Americans with diverse heritages and culinary traditions.

Lidia Celebrates America: A Heartland Holiday Feast Preview

1m 39s

Watch the preview for Lidia Celebrates America: A Heartland Holiday Feast. In her latest documentary special A Heartland Holiday Feast, Lidia Bastianich takes viewers on a cross-country journey. She explores how Americans representing diverse heritages are both preserving their own culinary traditions and transforming local cuisine.

Lidia and Maxwell Mraz Make Lefse & Salted Eelpout Cakes

2m 19s

To learn about Walker, MN and its traditions, Lidia visits local chef Maxwell Mraz. He shows Lidia how to prepare salted eelpout cakes. Eelpout is found in Minnesota’s lakes. They also make Lefse, a recipe from Max's Scandinavian grandmother. In her latest special A Heartland Holiday Feast, Lidia Bastianich travels cross-country meeting Americans with diverse heritages and culinary traditions.

Lidia Makes Gumbo in Louisiana

2m 15s

Lidia visits Natchitoches, Louisiana, in Creole Country, where she meets Lillie Delphin, who is renowned in the area for her Creole cooking. Together they make a delicious Gumbo to share with friends. In her latest special A Heartland Holiday Feast, Lidia Bastianich travels cross-country meeting Americans with diverse heritages and culinary traditions.

Lidia & Kate's Pigs

2m 5s

While in Denton, Texas, Lidia spends time with Kate Swan, age 12, who raises pigs and shows them at the State Fair. Kate show's Lidia how to wash brush, and feed the pigs, getting them ready for showing. In her latest special A Heartland Holiday Feast, Lidia Bastianich travels cross-country meeting Americans with diverse heritages and culinary traditions.

Lidia Makes Shoofly Pie in Pennsylvania

2m 30s

In Bethlehem, PA, Bonnie Boyer and her grandson Adam show Lidia how to make shoofly pie. Bonnie is locally renowned for her Pennsylvania Dutch recipes; she has the reputation for making some of the best shoofly pie in the area. In her latest special A Heartland Holiday Feast, Lidia Bastianich travels cross-country meeting Americans with diverse heritages and culinary traditions.

A Celebratory Meal

1m 23s

In rural Pennsylvania, Lidia hosts a celebratory meal for the family and friends she connected with on her journey through America's heartland. Here she toasts her friends, and a guest sings a beautiful operatic song. In her latest special A Heartland Holiday Feast, Lidia Bastianich travels cross-country meeting Americans with diverse heritages and culinary traditions.

Lidia Cooks in the Tradition of the Buffalo Soldiers

1m 22s

As part of her latest special A Heartland Holiday Feast, Lidia Bastianich travels to Lawton, OK, and learns the history of the Buffalo soldiers, and their role in the 1800s, making the West safe for settlement. Lidia and Wallace, a soldier who works to keep the history of the Buffalo Soldiers alive, share cornbread, some dumplings, baked beans, and coffee, cooking everything over an open fire.

Pork and Mustard Greens with Wisconsin's Hmong Community

2m 39s

In Wasau, WI, Lidia joins Lee Lor, to prepare Pork and Mustard Greens, a traditional dish of the Hmong community, refugees from Southeast Asia. Lidia Bastianich's latest special A Heartland Holiday Feast, shows her traveling cross-country, and meeting Americans with diverse heritages and culinary traditions.

Lidia's Risotto

39s

In rural Pennsylvania, Lidia hosts a celebratory meal for the family and friends she connected with on her journey through America's heartland. Here she makes an Italian Risotto for her guests. A Heartland Holiday Feast is Lidia Bastianich's latest special, in which she travels cross-country meeting Americans with diverse heritages and culinary traditions.

Kissing the Fish

1m 8s

On the frozen Leech lake in Walker, MN, Lidia and her grandson Miles meet Jason Rylander, an expert eelpout fisherman. He helps them catch the elusive fish, and because it's an eelpout fishing tradition they each give the fish a kiss! In her latest special A Heartland Holiday Feast, Lidia Bastianich travels cross-country meeting Americans with diverse heritages and culinary traditions.

Homegrown Heroes: Mark & Denise Beyers

1m 47s / TV-PG

In this clip from Lidia Celebrates America: Homegrown Heroes, Mark and Denise Beyers make a turkey, and then fresh, homemade ricotta with Lidia. Mark and Denise have a 15-acre ranch where they farm maple trees for syrup, raise turkeys and chickens, and sell both eggs and honey with the help of their growing family.

Homegrown Heroes: Alvina Maynard

1m 24s / TV-PG

In this clip from Lidia Celebrates America: Homegrown Heroes, Alvina Maynard describes how farming gives a person purpose. Alvina raises alpacas, as the owner of River Hill Ranch in Richmond, Kentucky.

Homegrown Heroes: Kelly Carlisle

1m 57s / TV-PG

In this clip from Lidia Celebrates America: Homegrown Heroes, we learn about Kelly Carlisle's journey, from her youth in a crime ridden neighborhood, to the Navy, and now farming. Kelly explains how farming and gardening made her a better person. She has founded Acta Non Verba: Youth Urban Farm Project, a non-profit urban farm that focuses on serving at-risk youth from kindergarten to 8th grade.

Homegrown Heroes: Matt Smiley

1m 54s / TV-PG

In this clip from Lidia Celebrates America: Homegrown Heroes, Matt Smiley discusses how farming can help veterans coming home, the similarities between farming and soldiering, and why farming is so important to him.

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