One of our idols is Lidia Bastianich, restauratuer, chef, cookbook author, PBS television star, and authority on all things Italian. Well, Tuesday she came in to Salumeria Italiana with her television crew to film footage for her upcoming show, Lidia's Italy in America! Everyone at Salumeria Italiana was excited. We all helped clean the store, make sure the shelves were stocked, and that everything was in order. The guys wore their Saturday ties.

Lidia was as just as friendly and engaging as she is on TV, intrigued by products from Delfino Colatura (Anchovy Essence) to our array of regional extra virgin olive oils to taralli.  She chatted with customers and staff members, and asked owner Gaetano about how the store got started and how he grew up in it. The focus of her new television show, which will air on WGBH and other PBS outlets starting in October 2011, is going to be on how various neighborhoods and businesses bring Italian foods to the United States, and preserve Italian culture and heritage here.

Salumeria Italiana is certainly part of that heritage and its future. We're so proud that Lidia likes the store and believes in what we're trying to do here. Watch for updates on when the segment about Boston's North End and Salumeria Italiana will run.