‘Ciao Italia’ hits milestone

MANGIA!
MANGIA! "Ciao Italia" host Mary Ann Esposito will celebrate the show's 25th anniversary at the Rhode Island Center for Performing Arts at the Historic Park Theatre, in Cranston, in November. / COURTESY "CIAO ITALIA"/MARY ANN ESPOSITO

Conduct a Google search for Mary Ann Esposito and you will find recipes for everything from eggplant Parmesan to pretzels. She has a collection of over 1,300 recipes between her 12 cookbooks, TV show and companion videos.

Of course, she has been cooking on TV for over 25 years. She is the creator as well as the host of the nationally televised PBS series “Ciao Italia” with Mary Ann Esposito. This year, the series celebrates its milestone 25th season, making it the longest-running cooking series in television history.

Mary Ann Esposito is as beloved a television and food personality as any of the founding mothers or fathers of cooking on TV. Her following in Rhode Island is extremely loyal, as evidenced by her moving the production of “Ciao Italia” to the studios of Rhode Island PBS in Cranston back in 2002.

She will join her fans this November at the Rhode Island Center for Performing Arts at the Historic Park Theatre, in Cranston, for a 25th-anniversary celebration of “Ciao Italia.” This event will include a lively conversation with Esposito, as she talks about her favorite moments, shares cooking tips with and takes questions from the audience, and brings back some classic videos.

- Advertisement -

“It’s a unique chance for me to get out of a studio kitchen and be with our viewers and fans,” Esposito said in a press release. The event’s producer, Joe Rocco, will host the evening.

The cooking-show audience is different from the dining-out crowd. They are more foodie do-it-yourselfers. They are likely to have many technical questions that will keep Esposito on her toes all evening. While she is a chef, she is equally passionate about sharing her knowledge. Surprisingly, she did not always love to cook. As her speakers bureau biography states, “Like many young people, I considered cooking a chore and did not appreciate the importance of food as a means of bringing families and friends together.”

She is an educator, having taught high school for several years before moving into the world of cooking Italian food, after being inspired on a trip to Italy to start her own catering business.

In addition to her own show, Esposito has cooked on numerous national radio and TV programs. And she has worked beside Julia Child, Sara Moulton, Jacques Pepin, Martin Yan, and many other celebrity chefs.

At the event on Nov. 14th, VIP ticket-holders will have the opportunity to meet Esposito. Whether fans have the opportunity to go on stage or meet her backstage, the location of her event is fitting.

The Park Theatre has a long tradition of its own. It was a cultural landmark for those growing up and living in Cranston for nearly eight decades until it closed its doors in 2002. It reopened in 2009 and its state-of-the-art video and sound system, past highlights and up-to-the-minute knowledge will be shared with the audience.

Given the relationship Esposito enjoys with her many followers, it is sure to be a memorable night reminiscing, sharing and cooking together. •

No posts to display