‘Lidia’s Kitchen’ Host Offering Virtual Program Through Moline’s WQPT
WQPT, PBS for the Quad Cities region is partnering with award-winning celebrity chef, author, and host of “Lidia’s Kitchen” Lidia Bastianich for its live virtual Taste of Fame culinary fundraising experience on May 21. More than 30 participating PBS stations will be part of the event, first launched by PBS station WCNY in Syracuse, N.Y.
Taste of Fame and WQPT invites guests to be part of this live culinary journey from the comfort and safety of their homes. Participating PBS 
stations are happy to work with Sunbasket who will deliver meal kits to homes, so guests can cook along with Lidia, who will participate from her home kitchen in Boston. The Sunbasket meal kit includes Spinach-Artichoke Dip with Traditional Pita for an appetizer, ingredients to create Lidia’s Springtime Asparagus Risotto, and Simple Dark Chocolate Bars for an after-dinner snack for four people.
“This is a truly unique experience for participants to cook along with a celebrity chef, and enjoy a meal with friends,” said WQPT Interim General Manager, Dawn Schmitt.
The experience begins with a cocktail Q&A with Chef Lidia, moderated by Chef Julia Collin Davison of “America’s Test Kitchen” at 5:30 pm CST. Guests are invited to ask Lidia a question in the Zoom chat while Lidia creates Fragoncello, one of her favorite spring cocktails. Following the cocktail Q&A at 6:00 pm CST, Lidia will guide guests through a cooking lesson to create a springtime asparagus risotto dish. When the cooking lesson ends, guests will have the opportunity to eat with friends in private Zoom rooms.
Dinner Ticket–$225 Price (for four people)
Includes:
· 30-minute cocktail Q&A with Chef Lidia, moderated by Chef Julia Collin Davison of “America’s Test Kitchen”
· Sunbasket meal kit delivered to your home (serves four people)
· Live cooking lesson
· Private Zoom meeting rooms to eat with friends in other households
· Two-week access to the recorded cooking lesson
· One-month Digital All Access to America’s Test Kitchen website, bringing ATK recipes and videos right into your home kitchen
“Lidia’s Kitchen” airs on WQPT Thursdays at 11:30 am. Tickets are on sale through April 23 by 5:00 pm at wqpt.org/lidia.
