– Celebrity Chef Lidia Bastianich Encourages Viewers to Cook Together, Eat Together, Be Together –

A blushing bride glows in her gold-trimmed red sari. Mardi Gras Indians dressed in vibrant feathers move to the beat of a drum. A happy couple, clad in jewel-toned robes, bow reverently before their elders. From jumping the broom to tying the knot, wedding celebrations in America are as diverse as the nation itself.

Celebrity chef and culinary author Lidia Bastianich cordially invites viewers to be her “plus one” on a cross-country matrimonial odyssey in her new PBS prime-time special, Lidia Celebrates America: Weddings: Something Borrowed, Something New, airing Monday, April 2, 2012.

The second in a series of Lidia Celebrates America specials airing on PBS, this one‐hour program explores America’s rich cultural heritage as seen through the lens of its wedding ceremonies and the special foods and traditions associated with them.

Lidia’s engaging exploration of wedding traditions includes a visit to New Orleans, where Liz and Ray are making the final preparations for a wedding that will showcase their love for The Big Easy. That means a wedding featuring Mardi Gras Indians dancing to the beat while bedecked in brightly colored feathers, and traditional New Orleans fare such as jambalaya, crawfish and pralines.