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”.

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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.

Homegrown Heroes: Nate Looney & Edgar Hercila

1m 45s / TV-PG

Nate Looney and Edgar Hercila work on a farm that they started in the middle of the city. It uses hydroponics to grow microgreens. See how the process works, in this clip from Lidia Celebrates America: Homegrown Heroes.

Homegrown Heroes: Jon & Tara Darling

1m 58s / TV-PG

In this clip from Lidia Celebrates America: Homegrown Heroes, pig farmers, Jon and Tara Darling make a Porchetta Roll with Lidia. They have dinner outside with family and friends. Jon and Tara farm lambs and hybrid pigs, but also create and serve farm-to-table dinners for local friends and veterans.

Homegrown Heroes: Calvin Riggleman

1m 56s / TV-PG

In this clip from Lidia Celebrates America: Homegrown Heroes, Lidia Bastianich tries whisky shots from Calvin Riggleman's distillery. Riggleman owns an 80-acre expanse, and grows all kinds of fruits and vegetables. He manages a farm stand, travels to farmer’s markets, and makes his own jams, jellies and sauces, as well as several kinds of local moonshine.

Lidia Celebrates America: Homegrown Heroes - Preview

2m 24s / TV-PG

In Homegrown Heroes, Chef Lidia Bastianich looks at veterans who return home and find farming to be a path back to civilian life. Seven poignant veterans’ stories take Lidia from the heart of Appalachia in Loom, W.Va. to Richmond, KY and Anaheim, CA, and prove that farming, beekeeping, and raising livestock can help individuals reconnect in a meaningful way to the community.

Holiday for Heroes: August Dannehl's Special Dinner

3m 31s / TV-PG

August Dannehl is a retired navy sailor who, after being honorably discharged, trained as a filmmaker. With a passion for cooking, August works to create feasts that celebrate other vets. Here, he and Lidia have created a meal to honor veterans Edith Casas, Mike Dowling and Bryan Anderson.

Holiday for Heroes: Finding a Purpose Post Military

3m 16s / TV-PG

During the meal aboard the U.S.S. George Washington, veterans share with Lidia Bastianich and Bob Woodruff the difficulties involved in finding a purpose after the military. Lidia also tries her first MRE–Meals Ready to Eat.

Holiday for Heroes: Limoncello Tiramisu

1m 59s / TV-PG

Veteran Bryan Anderson explains the army tradition of creating desserts from leftover dessert rations, for their comrades celebrating birthdays. Lidia then shares her dessert, Limoncello Tiramisu with him – a fanciful homage to the MRE (Meals Ready to Eat) birthday cakes created by his platoon.

Holiday for Heroes: Willie Sherrer

3m 15s / TV-PG

Willie Sherrer struggled with alcoholism and homelessness before being accepted to Culinary Command, an elite program that trains vets in new careers as cooks; today he owns a barbeque enterprise in New England.

Holiday for Heroes: Marlene Rodriquez

1m 57s / TV-PG

Marlene Rodriquez served three tours of Iraq before sustaining injuries that forced her to retire; she is one of only 500 women to be awarded the Purple Heart. In this clip she shows Lidia Bastianich her medal, and talks about what it means to her.

Holiday for Heroes: Yonas Hagos

2m 18s / TV-PG

Yonas Hagos (Yorkville, IL) is a retired army staff sergeant who came to the USA from a refugee camp in Sudan at 10 years-old; he is also a Purple Heart recipient. In this clip Lidia tries Yonas's mother's wonderful cooking.

Holiday for Heroes - Preview

1m 46s / TV-PG

In the moving documentary special, 'Holiday for Heroes', internationally-acclaimed chef and food ambassador Lidia Bastianich pays homage to the men and women of our military and the truly life-saving sacrifices they make daily for our freedom.

Home For the Holidays: Carlo Ponti

2m 53s

Growing up, cooking was always a part of daily life for Carlo Ponti Jr. His mother, Sophia Loren, was a skilled cook, and the author of several cook books, while Sophia’s mother and sister were also fantastic cooks. Here, Lidia Bastianich and Carlo make pasta together in honor of his mother. Carlo Ponti Jr, is a former actor, now award winning conductor.

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