First Things

[Jinmyo]

Lidia (I always think of you as "Lidia"), I'm so pleased to have you participate in a Q&A on eGullet.

My mother's Neapolitan background did not come along with the best sense of Italian cuisine. Perhaps because she was partly Welsh as well.

Seeing you and then Mario Batali on television has been one of the few times that the immense possibilities of that medium actually rewarded the time spent looking at the screen. Your emphasis on aroma still stands out for me.

What would you say are the first things one should be aware of in cooking?

[Lidia Bastianich]

I have always told all of my customers and viewers that 50% of a dish is a result of its ingredients. Technique is obviously important (as is practice) but you can create so many wonderful dishes by making sure that your products are authentic and fresh.