Celeb chef Lidia Bastianich writes of the American dream in new memoir

Celebrity chef, author and restaurateur Lidia Bastianich made her way to Eataly Chicago this weekend to meet with fans during a cooking class and book signing for the Italian marketplace’s specially titled “Lidia Day.”

Bastianich, 71, who is a partner in the Eataly chain of restaurant/shops, was in Chicago promoting her new memoir, “My American Dream: A Life of Love, Family, and Food.”

She calls her story “an immigrant story,” as the memoir details Bastianich’s life journey — from fleeing communism in her native Istria and spending two years in a refugee camp as a child, to finding success in America. She said she’d always thought of writing a memoir for her grandkids, but thought readers only wanted to hear about her cooking.

“All along I thought people just wanted … Lidia’s recipes, Lidia’s cooking techniques, Lidia’s tips. But with each book I included more and more personal stories and people responded very positively,” Bastianich said.

While she’s achieved the American dream and then some as a well-known TV host, author of a dozen cookbooks and owner of several restaurants, Bastianich said she simply hoped to find freedom when coming to the states.

“My plan was, you know, just initially to come to a place where we could be free, where I could speak my language, where I could practice my religion, where I could have a … roof over my head, because as an immigrant, you’re a floater,” Bastianich said. “And then having come here and received all of those and many, many more opportunities, it’s really extraordinary.”

Bastianich said her most defining life moments were being a mother and grandmother. While her grandchildren are older now, she said they still come to her for cooking advice.

“I get emails from the … two that are in a college: ‘Grandma, how did you make that?’ and ‘Grandma, how do you make this?’ and I know that they’re cooking for their friends,” Bastianich said.

Bastianich said she thinks people will take away a sense of confidence from reading her memoir and seeing the obstacles she overcame.

“If I did it, everybody out there can overcome their hurdles in life and make it happen, everybody in their own way,” she said.

Bastianich will be hosting a book signing 4:30-6 p.m. Saturday at Eataly, 43 E. Ohio St.