Class Description
In this new La Scuola class category, "Food for Thought", Join Lidia Bastianich, in her kitchen, as she teams up with television meteorologist and author, Bonnie Schneider, to bring you a truly unique culinary experience.  Bonnie is the author of Extreme Weather and appears on the various media platforms of CNN and HLN. In the first class of its kind, La Scuola will take a more cerebral approach to cooking by examining how various recent extreme weather events have impacted our food groups.  Bonnie will cite and discuss specific examples, such as Hurricane Irene, record summer heat and drought in Texas, while Lidia prepares a sustainable menu showcasing alternative ways to approach ingredients that have been affected. As always, guests will have the benefit of watching Lidia whip up a meal right before their eyes and will be treated to all 3-courses.  Dishes will be paired with wine and a resident sommelier will also explain how weather can affect vineyards and basically, make or break a harvest.  Class will be complete with adapted recipes to take home and both Bonnie and Lidia will be happy to sign copies of their respective books.

Menu
Roasted Winter Squash with Smoked Ricotta, Balsamic Vinegar Reduction & Toasted Almonds
Rigatoni with Oxtail Ragú
Chocolate Bread Parfait

Wine
Bastianich “Vespa” Bianco 2009, Friuli Venezia Giulia
La Mozza “Aragone” 2007, Toscana
Fontanafredda Moscato d'Asti, Piemonte

Bonnie Schneider is a meteorologist appearing on the various media platforms of CNN & HLN.  She is also a newly published author.  Her non-fiction book, Extreme Weather will be available at bookstores everywhere in January 2012.  For more information, please visit www.bonnieweather.com.

Lidia Bastianich is one of the best-loved chefs on television, a best-selling cookbook author, restaurateur, and owner of a flourishing food and entertainment business.  Lidia has married two passions in life - her family and food, to create multiple endeavors alongside her two children, Joseph and Tanya.  Lidia has authored seven cookbooks as well as the recent, Nonna Tell Me a Story: Lidia's Christmas Kitchen, her first children's book.  Lidia is the chef/owner of four acclaimed New York City restaurants - Felidia, Becco, Esca and Del Posto, as well as Lidia's in Pittsburgh and Kansas City.  In 2010, alongside her son Joe Bastianich, Mario Batali, Oscar Farinetti and the Sapers, she opened Eataly.  Lidia is the founder and president of Tavola Productions, which produces Lidia's Italy.  Together with her son Joseph, Lidia also produces award-winning wines at Bastianich Vineyards in Friuli and La Mozza Vineyards in Maremma, Italy.  Along with her daughter Tanya, son-in law Corrado Manuali and other partners, the team launched Nonna Foods in 2010 as a platform to distribute an array of both existing and new "Lidia's" food products.  Lidia gives freely of her time and knowledge, and is an active member of society who participates in community service activities and special events on behalf of the James Beard Foundation and Public Television.  To learn more about Lidia please visit www.LidiasItaly.com.

** Class duration is approximate and may vary by 10-15 minutes.