Wonderful!!! Finally a DVD from one of the best Italian chefs!! There is something about Lidia Matticchio Bastianich that is both soothing and comforting; maybe it's her quiet style of teaching or maybe it's the familiar feeling you have as you watch her teach her amazing dishes. She seems to make you feel as if you are the only person in the kitchen with her and that she is sharing her secrets just with you.Lidia is a woman of great strength and history, and her life story is one of awe and due respect; she did not come by her success by any connections or affiliations, rather she earned it by extremely hard work, a sincere dedication, and proud commitment. She is also a scholar of food and food chemistry, so what she teaches, she understands in it's most complex form, yet she will impart that education in ways that make you understand and appreciate. That is why she has a no-nonsense approach to food and what it can give to you if you both understand and coach it to it's final stage.The disc comes clipped into a single jacket and her series is produced by A La Carte Communications. On the front of the jacket is a lovely photo of Lidia welcoming you to come join her as she teaches you her recipes and secrets. On the back are two photos of dishes along with reference sites to go to for further information, which include the series sponsors who helped to underwrite these segments.Her single disc dvd contains:Meat-Stuffed PeppersTomato SauceGarlic Mashed PotatoesBasic RisottoSpaghettini with Oil and GarlicLinguine with Clam and Broccoli SauceMeat and Spinach CannelloniManicottiBechamel SauceMeat Sauce BologneseFresh Pasta (the basics for all your pasta needs; alot of fun)Ricotta Cheesecake (absolutely delicious!)This disc contains the basics of Italian cooking, and for those who are already adept at this level, they may not feel challenged. But I enjoyed every moment and you can be assured that you might come away with a couple more ideas and ways of preparing this great cuisine than you thought.I so very much hope that they continue with the distribution of more DVD's from her inspiring cooking show. Her segment on "gnocchi" (Italian potato dumplings) is just superb, and just one more example of the dedicated fan base that she has due to her style and manners. Yes, she is very soft-spoken, but she gently teaches the finer points of Italian cooking.I had the incredible experience of meeting her during a visit to Chicago to promote the PBS station which airs her program. She is a most gracious woman and her in-person persona is no different than her TV persona. She really loves the complexity, and simplicity, of good food and she relishes in teaching you just that.Once again, grazie Signora per tutto!!