My American Dream

A memoir as rich and complex as her mushroom ragu. --O, the Oprah Magazine Bastianich is one of our great culinary matriarchs. . . . She recounts how she went from asylum seeker to the embodiment of America's most enduring myth about itself. --The New York Times Book Review A loving and often mouth-watering picture of [Bastianich's] culinary adventures. --Pittsburgh Post-Gazette [Bastianich's] memory for evocative detail . . . and her writing style make for compelling reading. . . . She reflects on her life with a matter-of-factness that makes the stories all the more poignant. --The Washington Post A beguiling memoir about Lidia Matticchio Bastianich's path from a bucolic European childhood, abruptly cut short, to her remarkable present-day success as an award-winning television chef, cookbook author and restaurateur. --The Wall Street Journal Bastianich offers a look into her culinary background in this charming memoir. . . . While recounting youthful hardships--always from an optimistic point of view--Bastianich includes fond food memories. . . . She also chronicles the history of her Upper East Side restaurant, Felidia, and lovingly follows her children's entry into the food business. . . . Bastianich passionately evokes the concept that food is life. Through her lyrical prose, she also encourages readers to find the bright side of any situation. --Publishers Weekly Rich in interest, highlighted with appealing family snapshots, and spritzed with compelling observations. . . . [Bastianich's] autobiography is a chronicle of moving from project to project, always sharply focused on a goal. --The Washington Times An ebullient, nostalgic memoir of [Bastianich's] journey to success. . . . A warm story of a life buoyed by resilience, determination, love of family, and food. --Kirkus Reviews