Restaurants are such a big part of New York, of any city. We employ people who really need these jobs. The restaurants are a big part of the New York economy. To see these people at home, it breaks your heart – they have families, rent to pay. And there’s not much you can do. Even if we open a little bit – if it just generates enough to keep some people busy, to make some money.It’s not the question of being a big business right now, it’s just being open and keeping the people working and getting ready to grow back into a good economy.

Lidia Bastianich

Lidia Giuliana Matticchio Bastianich (Italian: [?li?dja d?u?lja?na mat?tikkjo ba?stja?nit?]; born in Pula, February 21, 1947) is an Italian-American celebrity chef, television host, author, and restaurateur. Specializing in Italian and Italian-American cuisine, Bastianich has been a regular contributor to public television cooking shows since 1998.In 2014, she launched her fifth television series, Lidia's Kitchen. She owns several Italian restaurants in the U.S. in partnership with her daughter Tanya Bastianich Manuali and her son, Joe Bastianich, including Felidia (founded with her ex-husband, Felice), Del Posto, and Becco in Manhattan; Lidia's Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh; and Lidia's Kansas City in Kansas City, Missouri.

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