Featuring 140 mouthwatering new recipes, a gastronomic journey of the Italian regions that have inspired and informed Lidia Bastianich's legendary cooking.For the home cook and the armchair traveler alike, Lidia's Italy offers a short introduction to ten regions of Italy-from Piemonte to Puglia-with commentary on nearby cultural treasures by Lidia's daughter Tanya, an art historian.· In Istria, now part of Croatia, where Lidia grew up, she forages again for wild asparagus, using it in a delicious soup and a frittata; Sauerkraut with Pork and Roast Goose with Mlinzi reflect the region's Middle European influences; and buzara, an old mariner's stew, draws on fish from the nearby sea.· From Trieste, Lidia gives seafood from the Adriatic, Viennese-style breaded veal cutlets and Beef Goulash, and Sacher Torte and Apple Strudel.· From Friuli, where cows graze on the rich tableland, comes Montasio cheese to make fricos, the corn fields yield polenta for Velvety Cornmeal-Spinach Soup.· In Padova and Treviso rice reigns supreme, and Lidia discovers hearty soups and risottos that highlight local flavors.· In Piemonte, the robust Barolo wine distinguishes a fork-tender stufato of beef, local white truffles with scrambled eggs is "heaven on a plate", and a bagna cauda serves as a dip for local.