Last week, Lidia traveled to Puerto Rico to participate in the 7^th Annual Plaza Food Fest at Plaza Las Américas as well as a taping of  “Operacion Chef,” which aired on Telemundo 47 in New York on Thursday, 5/28.  Here’s a sort of play by play- day by day of her time there.

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Monday, May 18th:
Lidia visits the Universidad del Este José A. “Tony” Santana International School of Hospitality and Culinary Arts . takes a tour with its director, Alicia Rivera-Méndez, and even had the chance to speak with a class about a project they were working on.

Lidia with a group of students from the Universidad del Este José A. “Tony” Santana International School of Tourism and Hospitality Management…..

That evening Lidia had dinner at Pikayo, Chef Wilo Benet’s flagship restaurant located in the Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico .  Chef Wilo started the dinner with canapés, including arroz pegao (”stuck rice”) with ahi tuna and later sent out a series of plates highlighting traditional Puerto Rican cuisine with a modern twist, including mofongo with shrimp, tostones of plantain, and bistec encebollado, each dish paired carefully with wine.  Chef Wilo has been a guest judge on “Top Chef” and will be participating in the new Bravo show, “Top Chef:  Masters.” 

Tuesday, May 19:
Lidia taped an episode of “Operación Chef,” a daily cooking show which airs on Telemundo 47 at 11:30am in New York.  She showed Chef Enrique and his audience how to make three different types of pesto:  Classic Pesto, Anna’s Spaghetti and Pesto Trapanese, and Pesto of Garlic, Anchovies and Raisins with handmade bread crumbs. After the taping, it was off to Aguaviva with Emilio Figueroa for a delicious dinner, owner of the Oof! Restaurant Group  in San Juan. Chef Héctor Crespo, who also participated in the Plaza Food Fest, joined in on the fun, as well.

Wednesday, May 20th:
In the morning Lidia gave a lecture on Italian food and wine to a group of culinary students and faculty at the Universidad del Este José A. “Tony” Santana International School of Tourism and Hospitality Management. After the lecture, she demonstrated a shrimp and leek risotto from “Lidia’s Italian-American Kitchen,” and an orange and fennel salad, from “Lidia’s Italy.”  In addition to the food, there was also a Bastianich wine tasting, where the students were able to take part in sampling, several of the Bastianich wines.  

Evening came, and Lidia was hosted to a very special VIP dinner at Café Puerto Rico by Rafael José, a popular TV host formerly of Univision’s “Despierta America,” and Lidia’s #1 fan in Puerto Rico, as well as the producers of his TV show, “De Tal Palo,” Aida Bayona, and Lourdes Rolón.  

Lidia Bastianich, Rafael José and Diana Pérez at Café Puerto Rico…….

Thursday, May 21st:
Lidia participated in a press conference during the day that announced the launch of SiTV, the local PBS station which has broadcasted Lidia’s programs in Puerto Rico for the past 10 years.  That evening was the first of Lidia’s three appearances at the 7^th Annual Plaza Food Fest at Plaza Las Américas.

On the menu for the first night of the festival was shrimp and leek risotto and an orange and fennel salad. Food and wine tastings were given out to members of the audience, Lidia answered questions, and later signed books at a local  Borders bookstore. There she met an adorable little girl named Catalina Concepción, who asked Lidia about how she started cooking.  

Watch the clip here!

Friday, May 22nd:
On Friday,Lidia had a chance to pose for photographs with some of the other chefs at the Plaza Food Fest, including Chefs Guillermo Gonzalez of Toro Sala’o Restaurant and Héctor Crespo of Aguaviva Restaurant, as well as Chef Enrique Piñeiro and the culinary students from the Universidad del Este who helped out during the prep work and demos. 

Friday night’s recipes for the demonstration were Mussels Trieste Style and Shrimp alla Buzara, both from “Lidia’s Italy.”  Again, as she did the evening before, Lidia answered questions from the audience, followed by another book signing at Borders. 

Back row, l-r: Diana Pérez; Chef Guillermo Gonzalez of Toro Sala’o Restaurant; Chef Héctor Crespo of Aguaviva Restaurant; Lidia Bastianich; Chef Enrique Piñeiro of Telemundo’s “Operación Chef”; Franklin Domenech, General Manager, Plaza Las Américas; and Sara Colomer, Director of Promotions, Plaza Las Américas…...

Front row, l-r:  Student volunteers from the Universidad del Este José A. “Tony” Santana International School of Tourism and Hospitality Management:  Cidmarie Carrasco; Mayris M. Escobar; Nicole Sánchez; and David Salinas…..

Saturday, May 23rd:
That morning Lidia decided to treat the culinary students of Universidad del Este to a breakfast by the beach at the Intercontinental San Juan Resort and Casino  in appreciation of their hard work.  There, the students each had a chance to speak with Lidia- to ask her questions- and later everyone took a leisurely stroll on the beach. 

Student volunteers from the Universidad del Este José A. “Tony” Santana International School of Tourism and Hospitality Management relaxing and enjoying a breakfast with Lidia Bastianich (l-r): Nicole Sánchez, Shabrezka “Chavito” Castillo, Cidmarie Carrasco, Lidia Bastianich, Diana Pérez, Mayris M. Escobar,  and David Salinas….

On Saturday night, Lidia’s final appearance at the Plaza Food Fest at Plaza Las Américas, Lidia made Crepes with Chocolate and Walnuts from “Lidia’s Italy,” and a classic Zabaglione from “Lidia’s Italian-American Kitchen.”  Again, the audience was treated to tastings and a question-and-answer session afterwards. 

Everywhere she went, Puerto Ricans greeted Lidia with open arms, big hearts and a “¡Santo Dios!  ¡Lidia en Puerto Rico!”  now and then. 

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We would like to thank our hosts in Puerto Rico, Maria de Lourdes López of SiTV and Alicia Rivera-Méndez of Universidad del Este José A. “Tony” Santana International School of Hospitality and Culinary Arts  for their help and support, as well as Maribel Miro of SiTV, and Luis Rivera of the José A. “Tony” Santana International School of Hospitality and Culinary Arts.