1 Day, 2 Men, 5 Recipes!
Hello and welcome to my little segment about being Lidia Bastianich’s personal assistant. The first question I am often asked about this position is if I cook with Lidia, and I have to say that cooking is actually the LEAST of my worries on any given day. Today was the execution of the past ten or so days of coordination.
It began with a request for Lidia to shoot a segment with Mo Rocca on his show,
1st Look NY on LX.TV. Once that was in the works a few days, we got a separate call for Lidia to do a segment with design icon Isaac Mizrahi. Well, we already had a makeup artist on board for the Mo piece, so given the option of two dates, we chose the one where Mo was already booked, and would shoot the two segments on the same day. Lidia appreciates this type of efficiency, so it worked out splendidly.
I was really excited to get these shoots together, and then started delving into the details. It’s not that I don’t feel capable of coordinating two things at once for the same day; it’s the commonalities between the two events that were tripping me up. I had two food stylists, two locations, five recipes, two eccentric one-man shows, and - here was where my mental block happened - since we booked Mo first, my mind wanted him to be first that day, but instead it worked out that Isaac would be in the morning and Mo would be in the afternoon. So I kept getting the stylists and recipes confused, because I kept thinking that Mo, his recipe, his stylist, were in line first for the day.
Therefore, despite being meticulous as possible with the details, I was still nervous that that day the car service would take her to the wrong location or that we’d be all set to make ravioli instead of shrimp at either given place, any of which mishaps would be unacceptable, to say the least.
Well…the day was a success, but I’ll elaborate at a later date and also let everyone know when and where the pieces are airing.
Lauren Kehnast
Assistant to Lidia Bastianich
August 1st, 2008 at 8:31 pm
8/1/08
Dear Friend Lauren,
I’ll put my money on you anytime. More later as it is getting toward the cocktail hour on late Friday afternoon. Look upon all these adventures as vignettes you are going to put into that book, “My Life With Lidia on the Fast Track.”
With warm regards,
Joan B. Wilson, Lidia’s Friend
South Pasadena, California
August 17th, 2008 at 2:48 pm
Lauren,
When I watch Lidia’s show, I am transported to my Aunt Angie’s kitchen - - the best. She and my grandmother were incredible cooks from Sicily, and they, too, said a gentle “OK” after every step as they taught me. They are many years gone now, and missed indeed.
My friend, Piera Canu, was a well-known makeup artist in Italy, has recently relocated to the US, and lives about 30 min. from Manhattan. She has a website (just Google her name) where you can see her work. If Lidia finds herself in need of such an artist (fluent in Italian and just a lovely person in general), you might want to give her a try. Her work is impeccable.
Again, many thanks to Lidia for bringing a bit of my cherished past into my kitchen. Priceless.
Cathy Hope
October 30th, 2008 at 4:34 pm
last Summer I was watching your show and saw how you prepared roasted lamb shoulder with vegetables.
This reciep was your son in laws favorite dish.
I would love to purchase your book that will include this wonderful reciep.
Lillian Wallace
November 13th, 2008 at 10:06 am
I’ve been to Becco three times. Great little place. Never met Lidia, but came close whn visiting NYC in October 2007 and just missed shaking her hand at the Columbus Day Parade. She was wearing a beautiful bright Red Coat-Nice !! It was nice to see so many Italians celebrating. Where I live, there are none & I feel strange. (South Coast Of Maine-York) Lidia
should open another restaurant in Boston, and maybe Foxwoods or Mohegan Sun. Especially Boston, like NY’s Little Italy, it’s losing it’s Italians!!!!!