Celebrity Chef Lidia Bastianich’s Mom is 99 and ‘Has All Her Marbles’
Celebrated chef Lidia Bastianich has been active on social media throughout the current pandemic, posting about her garden, and about the recipes and meals she’s been making for herself and her now 99-year-old mother, Erminia.
The television host brought her fans up to speed on how her mother, who she endearingly refers to as “Grandma,” is doing. Find out what this steady presence in Bastianich’s kitchen and on her PBS cooking shows has been up to and how mother and daughter have been sheltering in place.
Lidia Bastianich’s mother is now 99 and going strong
Bastianich, as noted, has a strong social media presence and many of her posts are about her strongest cheerleader and her roommate – her mother Erminia.
On one of her latest posts in July 2020, Bastianich sent a message from Grandma with a lighthearted ribbing about her mom’s ‘bossiness.’ “Grandma is saying hello to everybody and be safe,” she tweeted.
“Doing well, every morning after breakfast she sits outside before the temperature raises,” she continued. “At 99 and as they say, she still has all her marbles, bosses me on how to take care of the vegetable garden, plenty of string beans soon.”
How mother and daughter have been hunkering down during the pandemic
The Lidia’s Italy host has been hunkering down in her New York City home with Grandma.
The owner of Italian restaurant Felidia opened up about her experience staying home during the current global health crisis.
“I am sequestered at home with my 99-year-old mother,” she told TimeOut in March 2019. “She is well into her years but she is alert and enjoys a good game of cards and expects a good meal, especially when her daughter, the chef, is cooking.”
Her mother’s favorite dishes from the renowned Italian chef?
“A good chicken soup turned into Stracciatella is a priority,” she said. “Every three days, there is a soup pot on our stove — possibly an assorted vegetable soup or mushroom barley and rice with potatoes, which is a favorite of hers. She also enjoys pastas and risotto.”
Twitter loves Grandma almost as much as Lidia and her family
Grandma Erminia is so lovable and viewers look forward to seeing her dip bread into the last of whatever recipes Bastianich has made on her programs. She loves the sauces and the delight is always evident on her face.
The almost hundred-year-old foodie was sent a world of love from Bastianich’s fans on social media recently after her daughter posted an “all is well” update on her mother during the pandemic.
“You are remarkable for your age!,” said one fan in a tweet to Grandma. “Keep doing what you’re doing, and I bet that beautiful smile is part of your secret!”
Another fan repeated the phrase the TV chef says at the end of each of her cooking programs, “Tutti a tavola a mangiare!” (Everyone come to the table to eat!)
“Bless her heart! Glad Grandma has stayed safe and well during this time,” the fan tweeted. “I always enjoy the shows that she appears on and wish her continued good health! Tutti a tavola a mangiare! #Grandma”
Maybe Grandma Erminia should get her own cooking show? Hopefully, Food Network is listening.
