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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, “Ciao Italia: Plant, Harvest, Cook!”  and celebrate her 30th season as TV’s longest-running cooking show host!

Chef, author, and Italian American icon Mary Ann Esposito is the creator and host of the nationally televised PBS series Ciao Italia with Mary Ann Esposito™  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.

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!

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.

Not someone who would qualify as a green thumb? You’ll certainly be closer than ever after this week’s joyous episode!