Lidia Bastianich at her Queens home.Photo:Brian DobenLidia Bastianichand her sonJoe Bastianichhad a long history withMario Batali, but that relationship is no more.In 2017 Batali, Joe’s former business partner, wasaccused of sexual assaultand was divested from their restaurants.“It was very hard,” Lidia tells PEOPLE of the time she learned of the allegations. “He was a decent young man and then went off the deep end. He made it hard for our family.“Of their communication now: “We have never spoken to him since,” she adds in this week’s issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands now.Mario Batali in court in May 2022.Steven Senne/POOL/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockJoe and Batali formerly ran the B&B Hospitality Group. In astatement to PEOPLEin 2018, B&B Hospitality Group announced their partnership with Batali was ending, citing victim accounts as “chilling and deeply disturbing.” In 2021, the company wasordered to pay$600,000 to 20 people who were sexually assaulted while working at their restaurants.(In May 2022, Batali was found not guilty on charges of indecent battery and assault in Boston Municipal Court. He settled two more cases in Aug. 2022,according toThe New York Times.)Lidia Bastianich with her daughter Tanya Bastianich Manuali and son Joe Bastianich in 2008.DAVID X PRUTTING/Patrick McMullan via GettyIn Lidia’s recent interview with PEOPLE, the cookbook author spoke about how she handles adversity.“You just have to show up, shore up, straighten up. Gather the troops — and that’s the family, number one — and you face reality,” she says.Lidia adds that “not every situation is a winning situation. You have to be able to take that punch, heal, accept it … and go on to new things. Don’t give up.“Lidia Bastianich at home in Queens.Brian DobenNever miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Lidia also stressed the importance of family while promoting her new cookbook,Lidia’s From Our Family Table to Yours,which she co-wrote with daughter, Tanya Bastianich Manuali.The family runsBeccoin New York andLidia’s Kansas City. “After COVID-19 we decided I’m going to pull back, and the kids will lead,” she says. “But I told them, in the Italian fashion, if you ever fight because of the money, I’m going to come from my grave and get you. The most important thing to us is that family remains family.”Lidia Bastianich at home in Queens.Brian DobenBastianich’s celebrated career has included cooking for countless stars and two popes. But her favorite taste testers are her five grandchildren. Her granddaughter Julia Manuali, a junior at Georgetown University, recently had Lidia teach a cooking class for her friends. “They were all vegetarian!” says Bastianich. “Being a grandma is the best.”The grandkids keep her up-to-date on trends, but the truth is, “I never felt pressure to conform,” she says. “I am who I am. I always had a good sense of what I would feel comfortable with.”
Lidia Bastianich at her Queens home.Photo:Brian Doben
Brian Doben
Lidia Bastianichand her sonJoe Bastianichhad a long history withMario Batali, but that relationship is no more.In 2017 Batali, Joe’s former business partner, wasaccused of sexual assaultand was divested from their restaurants.“It was very hard,” Lidia tells PEOPLE of the time she learned of the allegations. “He was a decent young man and then went off the deep end. He made it hard for our family.“Of their communication now: “We have never spoken to him since,” she adds in this week’s issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands now.Mario Batali in court in May 2022.Steven Senne/POOL/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockJoe and Batali formerly ran the B&B Hospitality Group. In astatement to PEOPLEin 2018, B&B Hospitality Group announced their partnership with Batali was ending, citing victim accounts as “chilling and deeply disturbing.” In 2021, the company wasordered to pay$600,000 to 20 people who were sexually assaulted while working at their restaurants.(In May 2022, Batali was found not guilty on charges of indecent battery and assault in Boston Municipal Court. He settled two more cases in Aug. 2022,according toThe New York Times.)Lidia Bastianich with her daughter Tanya Bastianich Manuali and son Joe Bastianich in 2008.DAVID X PRUTTING/Patrick McMullan via GettyIn Lidia’s recent interview with PEOPLE, the cookbook author spoke about how she handles adversity.“You just have to show up, shore up, straighten up. Gather the troops — and that’s the family, number one — and you face reality,” she says.Lidia adds that “not every situation is a winning situation. You have to be able to take that punch, heal, accept it … and go on to new things. Don’t give up.“Lidia Bastianich at home in Queens.Brian DobenNever miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Lidia also stressed the importance of family while promoting her new cookbook,Lidia’s From Our Family Table to Yours,which she co-wrote with daughter, Tanya Bastianich Manuali.The family runsBeccoin New York andLidia’s Kansas City. “After COVID-19 we decided I’m going to pull back, and the kids will lead,” she says. “But I told them, in the Italian fashion, if you ever fight because of the money, I’m going to come from my grave and get you. The most important thing to us is that family remains family.”Lidia Bastianich at home in Queens.Brian DobenBastianich’s celebrated career has included cooking for countless stars and two popes. But her favorite taste testers are her five grandchildren. Her granddaughter Julia Manuali, a junior at Georgetown University, recently had Lidia teach a cooking class for her friends. “They were all vegetarian!” says Bastianich. “Being a grandma is the best.”The grandkids keep her up-to-date on trends, but the truth is, “I never felt pressure to conform,” she says. “I am who I am. I always had a good sense of what I would feel comfortable with.”
Lidia Bastianichand her sonJoe Bastianichhad a long history withMario Batali, but that relationship is no more.
In 2017 Batali, Joe’s former business partner, wasaccused of sexual assaultand was divested from their restaurants.
“It was very hard,” Lidia tells PEOPLE of the time she learned of the allegations. “He was a decent young man and then went off the deep end. He made it hard for our family.”
Of their communication now: “We have never spoken to him since,” she adds in this week’s issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands now.
Mario Batali in court in May 2022.Steven Senne/POOL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Steven Senne/POOL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Joe and Batali formerly ran the B&B Hospitality Group. In astatement to PEOPLEin 2018, B&B Hospitality Group announced their partnership with Batali was ending, citing victim accounts as “chilling and deeply disturbing.” In 2021, the company wasordered to pay$600,000 to 20 people who were sexually assaulted while working at their restaurants.
(In May 2022, Batali was found not guilty on charges of indecent battery and assault in Boston Municipal Court. He settled two more cases in Aug. 2022,according toThe New York Times.)
Lidia Bastianich with her daughter Tanya Bastianich Manuali and son Joe Bastianich in 2008.DAVID X PRUTTING/Patrick McMullan via Getty
DAVID X PRUTTING/Patrick McMullan via Getty
In Lidia’s recent interview with PEOPLE, the cookbook author spoke about how she handles adversity.
“You just have to show up, shore up, straighten up. Gather the troops — and that’s the family, number one — and you face reality,” she says.
Lidia adds that “not every situation is a winning situation. You have to be able to take that punch, heal, accept it … and go on to new things. Don’t give up.”
Lidia Bastianich at home in Queens.Brian Doben
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Lidia also stressed the importance of family while promoting her new cookbook,Lidia’s From Our Family Table to Yours,which she co-wrote with daughter, Tanya Bastianich Manuali.
The family runsBeccoin New York andLidia’s Kansas City. “After COVID-19 we decided I’m going to pull back, and the kids will lead,” she says. “But I told them, in the Italian fashion, if you ever fight because of the money, I’m going to come from my grave and get you. The most important thing to us is that family remains family.”
Bastianich’s celebrated career has included cooking for countless stars and two popes. But her favorite taste testers are her five grandchildren. Her granddaughter Julia Manuali, a junior at Georgetown University, recently had Lidia teach a cooking class for her friends. “They were all vegetarian!” says Bastianich. “Being a grandma is the best.”
The grandkids keep her up-to-date on trends, but the truth is, “I never felt pressure to conform,” she says. “I am who I am. I always had a good sense of what I would feel comfortable with.”
source: people.com
