IAP 255: Plant, Harvest, Cook! Mary Ann Esposito Takes Us from Dirt to Dinner

<p>This week’s legendary guest is no stranger to our show, and this week she’s here to celebrate the release of her latest book, “<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Ciao-Italia-Plant-Harvest-Cook/dp/1942155484/ref=sr_1_1?crid=CSNI9ZCLJFTF&amp;keywords=ciao+italia+plant+harvest+cook+by+mary+ann+esposito&amp;qid=1668091553&amp;sprefix=mary+ann+esposi%2Caps%2C174&amp;sr=8-1" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Ciao Italia: Plant, Harvest, Cook!</a>”&nbsp; and celebrate her 30th season as TV’s longest-running cooking show host!</p> <p>Chef, author, and Italian American icon Mary Ann Esposito is the creator and host of the nationally televised PBS series <a href="https://www.ciaoitalia.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Ciao Italia with Mary Ann Esposito™</a>&nbsp; and is the author of 14 cookbooks. She has worked beside world-renowned chefs like Julia Child, Jacques Pepin, Martin Yan, Jasper White, and countless others. When she’s not cooking, Mary Ann hosts culinary trips to Italy, where she works hands-on with her students to teach them regional dishes from up and down the peninsula.</p> <p>We talk to Mary Ann about the inspiration behind her latest collection, which fuses her husband’s passion for gardening with her devotion to teaching the next generation the skills of a simpler time. Mary Ann shares her secrets of seasonal produce, seed saving, and her tips on growing kitchen staples such as eggplant, tomatoes, and more!</p> <p>We also talk about Italian regional produce, such as San Marzano Tomatoes and Tropea Onions, and what it means when these items are grown in areas outside of Italy.</p> <p>Not someone who would qualify as a green thumb? You’ll certainly be closer than ever after this week’s joyous episode!</p>