News Releases
New title from Celebrated Author, Chef and TV Host Lidia Bastianich Focuses on Italian Way of Life
NEW YORK/DES MOINES (May 24, 2006) — Meredith Corporation (NYSE:MDP) announced today that it is introducing Lidia: Italy at Home, a special interest publication from famed author and public television host Lidia Bastianich. The magazine will be on newsstands from May 23 through August 22.
Lidia: Italy at Home invites readers into the lifestyle of Lidia and her family. The magazine is dedicated to sharing the knowledge, confidence and joy of preparing delicious authentic Italian food. Lidia teaches readers about Italian ingredients, cooking techniques and the pleasures of the Italian table and style of the Italian home. The reader will be inspired to cook Italian with exciting new products and entertain at home in the unique style that is Italian, elegant and simple.
Lidia’s son, Joseph Bastianich, a restaurateur and award-winning wine producer will serve as the magazine’s Italian wine expert. Her daughter, Tanya Manuali Bastianich, a Renaissance art historian, will share Lidia’s favorite Italian hideaways, magnificent art, palazzos, hamlets and unique artisans.
“Lidia has an extraordinary fan base and Meredith is delighted to invite our readers to share in her Italian way of life with this new, exciting magazine bursting with delicious meals, helpful tips and inspiration,” says Joy Taylor, editor-in-chief of Lidia: Italy at Home.
Lidia is host of the national public television series “Lidia's Family Table.” She is co-owner of three New York City restaurants: Felidia, Becco and Esca. Lidia is also the author of several books including La Cucina di Lidia, Lidia’s Italian Table, Lidia’s Italian-American Kitchen, Lidia’s Family Table and the soon to be released Lidia’s Italy (Knopf, April 2007).
“I’m very excited to delve into the magazine business with Meredith,” says Lidia. “My passion for Italian cooking is a perfect match for Meredith’s audience, which is passionate about their homes and families.”
Among the features included in Lidia: Italy at Home are:
Pasta Perfect Dishes: Seven of Lidia’s most versatile pasta recipes. Also offered in this section are tips and techniques for cooking and serving pasta.
Coffee Breaks: The Italians have rules about when to have what type of coffee drink and what you should eat as you sip. Here, Lidia explains how caffe latte, cappuccino, espresso, and caffe corretto are served and shares foods typically served with each coffee.
The Family Gathers: Lidia shares a casual, multi-generational family meal that features a bounty of seasonal ingredients. Recipes will showcase the wonderful, delicate flavors and textures of asparagus, green peas, scallions, leeks, fresh herbs, carrots, green beans, baby lettuces, and more.
Antipasti Party for Grown-ups: Plan your best party ever with Italian appetizers and secrets to stress-free entertaining, presented by Tanya Manuali Bastianich.
Travel Diary: Sail the Croatian Coast with the Bastianich family. Featured are great seafood recipes from this region, including a recipe for lobster stuffed with bread crumbs.
Italian Wines that Sparkle: Joseph Bastianich dips into three Italian regions to recommend six sparkling wines perfect for summer sipping.
Meredith Special Interest Publications are the largest collection of newsstand publications in the world, with approximately 200 issues a year in the areas of building and remodeling; decorating and design; cooking and entertaining; gardening and outdoor living; health and nutrition; and crafting.
About Meredith Corporation
Meredith (www.meredith.com) is one of the nation's leading media and marketing companies with businesses centering on magazine and book publishing, television broadcasting, integrated marketing and interactive media. The Meredith Publishing Group features 25 subscription magazines - including Better Homes and Gardens, Family Circle, Ladies' Home Journal, Parents, Child, Fitness, and American Baby - and approximately 200 special interest publications. Meredith owns 14 television stations, including properties in top-25 markets such as Atlanta, Phoenix and Portland.
Meredith has approximately 350 books in print and has established marketing relationships with some of America's leading companies including The Home Depot, DIRECTV, DaimlerChrysler, Wal-Mart and Carnival Cruise Lines. Meredith's consumer database, which contains more than 85 million names, is one of the largest domestic databases among media companies and enables magazine and television advertisers to target marketing campaigns precisely. Additionally, Meredith has an extensive Internet presence that includes 32 Web sites and strategic alliances with leading Internet destinations. Meredith Hispanic Ventures publishes five Spanish-language titles, making Meredith the largest Hispanic publisher in the United States reaching women at every life stage. The Family Circle Cup, America's premier women's professional tennis tournament, is owned and operated by Meredith and held every April in Charleston, SC. For more than three decades it has showcased the best in women's tennis.
Contacts:
Lisa Bagley, (212) 551-7189, lisa.bagley@meredith.com
Lindsey von Busch, (732) 270-3103, lindsey575@aol.com