Internationally renowned chef Lidia Bastianich will participate in two upcoming events in Green Country to benefit student scholarships and educational programming at Rogers State University Public Television.
The university will hold an 11:30 a.m. luncheon on Thursday, Nov. 1, at Hillcrest Country Club, 1901 Price Road in Bartlesville. The cost for the event is $50 per person, with a book signing to follow.
That evening, a patron reception with Bastianich will be held 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa. Southern Hills Executive Chef Jonathan Moosmiller has created a special menu featuring Bastianich’s recipes for event guests. Tickets will be $250 per person for the limited-seating event, which includes a signed copy of Bastianich’s latest cookbook, “Lidia’s Favorite Recipes: 100 Foolproof Italian Dishes from Basic Sauces to Irresistible Entrees.”
The events will be hosted by RSU President Dr. Larry Rice, RSU First Lady Peggy Rice and RSU Public TV General Manager Dan Schiedel. Proceeds for both events will benefit RSU Public Television’s educational outreach programs, including its televised academic competition, “I Want Answers!” that last year provided more than $18,000 in scholarships to area high school students.
“We’re honored to bring such a talented and internationally celebrated chef to Green Country, with the added bonus of benefiting student scholarships and programming through RSU Public Television,” said Peggy Rice.
Bastianich is one of the best-loved chefs on television, with her television shows seen on PBS stations nationwide, as well as on RSU Public TV. She is a best-selling cookbook author, restaurateur and owner of a flourishing food and entertainment business. Her cookbooks include “Lidia’s Italy in America,” “Lidia Cooks from the Heart of Italy” and “Lidia’s Italy” – all companion books to her television series, “Lidia’s Italy in America” and “Lidia’s Italy.”
She also is the chef/owner of four acclaimed New York City restaurants – Felidia, Becco, Esca and Del Posto, as well as Lidia’s Pittsburgh and Lidia’s Kansas City. She is also founder and president of Tavola Productions, an entertainment company that produces high quality broadcast productions. Along with her son, Joe Bastianich, Mario Batali, and Oscar Farinetti, the team opened Eataly, the largest artisanal Italian food and wine marketplace in New York City.
Along with her children and family, Bastianich has created and marketed ready-to-serve pasta and sauces, a line of specialty cookware and serving ware, and award-winning wines.
During her visit to the area, she also will participate in the station’s annual fall membership drive to help raise awareness and support for the public television station, which is available in more than 1.3 million homes in northeastern Oklahoma.
For more information or reception tickets, contact Jennifer Sterling, RSU Public TV Program/Membership Manager, at 918-343-7882.