Author Chat Book Club

You’re invited to an intimate evening with award-winning television host and bestselling author Lidia Bastianich as she talks about her memoir My American Dream: A Life of Love, Family, and Food. 

Born in Pula, on the Istrian peninsula, Lidia grew up surrounded by love and security, learning the art of Italian cooking from her beloved grandmother. But when a communist regime annexed Istria, Lidia’s family fled to Trieste, where they spent two years in a refugee camp waiting for visas to enter the United States. When she finally arrived in New York, Lidia soon began working in restaurants, the first step leading to her becoming one of the most revered chefs and businesswomen in the country. Heartwarming, deeply personal, and powerfully inspiring, My American Dream is the story of Lidia’s close-knit family and her dedication and endless passion for food.

As a special bonus (and pre-release!) Lidia will preview and chat about her newest cookbook Lidia's From Our Family Table to Yours: More Than 100 Recipes Made With Love For All Occasions: A Cookbook. In this inviting, deeply personal new cookbook, she shares the dishes she cooks for those she loves the most. This is the first book Lidia has written since the death of her mother, Nonna, who was beloved not only by Lidia’s family but also by millions of cookbook and TV fans. With all the family stories and passed-down recipes, in many ways, this book can be seen as a tribute to Nonna. Bringing together more than a hundred delicious, flavorful, and easy-to-make Italian recipes, From Our Family’s Table to Yours is a celebration of the dishes Lidia’s family turns to over and over—and yours will, too. From Crespelle with Herb Pesto to Penne with Sausage, Mushrooms, and Ricotta Vegetable Polpette to Mimosa Cake, this book is the next best thing to a seat at Lidia’s kitchen table.

Books are available to check out from the Reference Desk on the second floor. Join us here at the library or pre-register here to receive a link to join the discussion from home.

Brought to you in partnership with the Library Speakers Consortium and the Council Bluffs Public Library Foundation.