Pépin Lecture - Mary Ann Esposito - Ciao Italia: Plant. Harvest. Cook!

For our last Pépin lecture of the fall 2024 series, chef, cookbook writer, and television host Mary Ann Esposito will present on her latest book, Ciao Italia: Plant. Harvest. Cook! This cookbook is a guide through seasonal vegetable gardening and Italian-style cooking with simple tips, over 100 recipes, and beautiful photography.

At this lecture, Mary Ann Esposito will discuss her cookbook and guide the audience through a slideshow of photos featuring her garden, her travels, and dishes from the book.

Copies of Ciao Italia: Plant. Harvest. Cook! will be available for purchase at the event through the Barnes & Noble Campus Store. We will also serve a couple of bites from the book to preview recipes you can make at home!

About the Book:
Ciao Italia: Plant. Harvest. Cook! takes the reader on a seasonal home garden vegetable journey focusing on simple growing tips for anyone interested in growing their own vegetables and how to cook them Italian style. In simple language, anyone interested in growing their own vegetables whether on a grand or small scale will find this book filled with helpful gardening advice. No former green thumb necessary.
Over 30 years of trial and error and getting down and dirty, have been the foundation for this book, as well as a love for fresh homegrown food. The book highlights what’s growing in the early spring garden, featuring such cool weather crops as lettuce, radishes and peas and as the pages turn, progresses to what’s growing during the hot summer months with crops like tomatoes, eggplant and peppers.
Over 100 delicious recipes from soup to dessert are featured. Accompanied by beautiful food photography and photos from the author’s personal collection, this book will make you want to plant, harvest, and cook!

About the Speaker:

Mary Ann Esposito is the creator and host of the nationally televised PBS series, Ciao Italia with Mary Ann Esposito and the author of 14 cookbooks including her most recent, Ciao Italia: Plant. Harvest. Cook!

Ciao Italia has been in production since 1989, making it America’s longest running television cooking series. Through Ciao Italia and appearances on other programs including The Today Show, the Food Network, Discovery Channel, Fox, RAI International, The Victory Garden, and many others, she has been able to share traditional Italian cooking, history and culture with audiences around the world. Mary Ann has worked beside world-renowned chefs like Julia Childs and Jacques Pépin.

In addition the Mary Ann Esposito Foundation was created to help culinary students achieve their goals, and most recently, the Foundation announced the creation of the Rebecca Alssid Award, named for the founder of the culinary arts program at Boston University. This annual award is presented to qualifying students who are part of the gastronomy and culinary arts program.

Mary Ann also teaches an online credit course at Boston University’s Metropolitan Campus and has been part of the Seminar in the Arts program for close to 30 years.

Numerous organizations have recognized Mary Ann for her efforts to preserve the traditions surrounding Italian regional food and culture. She received the Order of the Star of Italy Cavaliere award from the President of the Italian Republic as well as the Premio Artusi award for her work in promoting Italian food. The Italian Trade Commission further distinguished Mary Ann by naming her a Hall of Fame honoree. The Order Sons of Italy in America honored Mary Ann with a Lifetime Achievement Award in the Culinary & Cultural Arts of Italy award.

Mary Ann holds a Masters Degree from the University of New Hampshire. Johnson and Wales University presented Mary Ann with their Distinguished Author Award. St. Anselm College conferred an honorary doctorate for her dedication to teaching and preserving authentic Italian cuisine.

This lecture series is funded by the Jacques Pépin Foundation.

Host or Publisher Boston University Programs in Food & Wine