Lidia Bastianich
Lidia is the star and the center of the wheel of this large, rambunctious Italian family that knows how to cook, eat and enjoy the best that life has to offer.

Erminia Motika
Lidia’s mother Erminia is the 86 year old matriarch of the Matticchio-Bastianich clan. Born and raised in the region of Istria, Italy, she was a school teacher who imbued both Lidia and her brother Franco with a strong sense of “family.” Today, Erminia lives in her own apartment in Lidia’s home and is a welcome sous chef and prep cook in Lidia’s warm and inviting kitchen.

Lidia’s Children

Joseph Bastianich
Lidia’s son, Joe, literally grew up in the food business. Today, this dynamic food entrepreneur has just published his new book, a comprehensive guide to Italian wines entitled Vino Italiano (add link). Joseph owns several successful restaurants in New York City, Los Angeles and Las Vegas (www.bastianich.com) and his own vineyards in the Fruili and Tuscany regions of Italy. The father of three young children, Joe also hold the title of family “Grill Chef.”

Deanna Damiano Bastianich
Deanna is Joe’s wife and the proud mother of three children. Deanna also comes from an Italian family that knows how to cook, eat and enjoy the best life has to offer.

Tanya Bastianich Manuali
With a BA in Art History from Georgetown, and a PhD in Italian Renaissance Art History from Oxford, Tanya spent six years living, studying and teaching Art History in Florence, Italy where she married her husband, Corrado Manuali, an attorney. Returning to New York, Tanya broadened the family business with the launch of an upscale travel company and a line of specialty products sold in fine stores nationally (link to sauce page). She is also the co-author of Lidia’s Italy (link to book) and appears in several of her television episodes. Tanya has two small children of her own, Lorenzo and Julia Manuali.

Corrado Manuali
Tanya’s husband is an attorney specializing in corporate and international law assisting foreign companies doing business in the United States. He comes from Rome, Italy and now happily makes his home in Long Island, New York. Corrado also acts as the general counsel of the Bastianich family’s growing food business, and is a frequent member around Lidia’s family table.

The Grandchildren

Olivia
Joe and Deanna’s daughter: Olivia is ten years old and is the first-born granddaughter of Lidia Bastianich. Her favorite dishes by Nonna Lidia include the turkey cutlets, minestra and homemade tortellini. She loves to sing and play the piano and smell wine with her father Joe.

Miles
Joe and Deanna’s son: Miles is a fun-loving energetic young boy who loves to play the drums and swim, roll out gnocchi dough and eat Nonna Lidia’s linguini con vongole (with clams). He also loves to go to the restaurants with his Dad and help.

Ethan
Joe and Deanna’s son: Ethan is the youngest of Joe and Deanna’s children and is six years old. He likes to play soccer and eat palacinke.

Lorenzo
Son of Tanya and Corrado. Lorenzo is eight years old and loves to play piano and soccer. He lives just a few blocks from Nonna Lidia and is over to play with Great Grandma “Noni” Erminia almost every day after school. His favorite dishes are Nonna’s chicken and potatoes and baked pasta.

Julia
Daughter of Tanya and Corrado. Julia is four years old and is the youngest of all of Lidia’s grandchildren. She loves vegetables – asparagus and zucchini especially – and is also a big fan of helping her big brother Lorenzo and Noni Erminia pick vegetables from the garden.