My American Dream

“A memoir as rich and complex as her mushroom ragú.” —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