New Lidia episodes

[ttoommyy]

Started over the weekend here in the NYC area. Between 3 different PBS stations, I got to see 3 different episodes in as many days. On one episode, she made a very simple swordfish recipe that had me drooling. I plan on making it this weekend. I've had the cookbook for months now, but until I saw this recipe on TV, it didn't seem all that interesting. It really helps to see the recipe "in action."

Welcome back Lidia!

[Ricardo Malocchio]

Can someone clue me in on the new episodes (cite by main recipe)? I view these religiously, but haven't seen any that aren't reruns lately.

Shockingly short thread, by the way, for one of the only TV chefs who matters.

[ttoommyy]

The most memorable for me is one in which Lidia makes a sauce with a whole ocotpus; it's quite interesting! There's another in which Mark Ladner, the chef at Del Posto, makes stuffed vegetables. In the first part of that episode, Lidia makes a really good looking tart with arborio rice, zucchini and other ingredients. She makes it in a large sheet pan. In another episode she makes a Calabrian lobster salad in which the lobster in cut into parts, but not shelled. It is then mixed with a vinegarette. Her granddaughter Olivia is in one episode and she is much older looking than previously shown. Also, the music is much different (an upbeat, ethnic score) and each show starts with a silent "postcard" of the region explored on the show. I watch this show religiously (even watching the repeats 2, 3 or more times) and the current episodes that run on the PBS stations (and not the cable channel Create) are new to me.

And yes, where's all the love for Lidia???

[Novelli]

were you aware that you could go to Lidia's website and watch full episodes? I think they're the newer ones.

[ttoommyy]

I didn't know that. Thanks. I'm not a big fan of watching shows on the computer, but it's good to know if I really want to see something I missed. Thanks.

[erica]

OH, I missed the whole octopus! Do you remember which region was featured on that show/

[ttoommyy]

I can't for the life of me remember. Sorry erica.

[greygarious]

You can tell the new ones by her appearance - she seems to have lost a little weight, and has thicker hair in a darker shade, not the reddish hue of earlier series.

Saw one the other day which included her son and his daughter. What a cold fish HE is. Good thing mama has a heavy hand with the olive oil, because butter wouldn't melt in his mouth. Totally devoid of enthusiasm; I felt bad for his young daughter. At least Lidia cheered her on.

[ttoommyy]

Joe is a bit of an odd character, but he has a good business sense and has helped make that empire what it is. I'm assuming he takes after his father more than his mother, which may be why Lidia divorced him! lol
I love seeing their interaction; she is such a typical Italian mama with him. She asks him to do something, he does it his way, she says, "good Joe" and then she takes whatever it is from him and does it her way! Classic.

[erica]

Are you absolutely certain that these are new episodes? I looked at the list of episodes on her site and I think I've seen them before; they seem to be from her Heart of Italy book that was published a year ago.

[ttoommyy]

Yes, they are from that book but they are a second installment of episodes. You can tell they are different because they have a different opening and the music throughout is different. Believe me, I've seen every episode from the first installment about 5 times over! lol

[markabauman]

The episodes keep getting better and better. I don't want to be entertained by some personality- I just want to learn to cook better and learn more and more about regional Italian cuisine. I got to meet her recently and she is extremely gracious. I have made one observation about something I am curious about- I actually meant to ask her when I met her, but forgot, and that is about her use of garlic. Is anyone of the opinion that she uses more than what would be typically used in the original dishes in Italy to possibly accommodate for American tastes?

[ttoommyy]

We've met her a few times and she is exactly what you see on TV. Very down to earth. Many people don't realize that she is quite educated as well. It is well worth going to a signing if she is in your area.

As for the garlic, I know she throws in a lot and it's usually whole or just smashed. This is becasue she says she cannot easily digest garlic and fishes it out before serving.

[foodiemom10583]

I saw the end of what seemed like a new episode a couple of weeks ago. Two of her grandsons were on it and she was trying to get them to taste what she made. At one point, after trying something (a seafood dish, I think), they both said, "Yuck!'' It was pretty funny. I appreciate the honest reactions they gave. Lidia seemed happy enough to eat whatever they were leaving over. The fregola looked gorgeous. They liked that.