by Ana Calderone

The kitchen is Lidia Bastianich's ship and she is the captain. For our exclusive video series What I Really Cook for Dinner, the cookbook author and restaurateur takes PEOPLE inside the New York City home she's been cooking in for over 35 years. Fans may recognize the sprawling space as the backdrop for many of her early television shows. "Here, I raised my children and my grandchildren," she says. Now, "it's [just] grandma and I, but still this big table is always full."

The kitchen is equipped with a rotisserie grill (a subject of many fan emails), a giant stove Bastianich refers to as "my Ferrari" and a gorgeous waterfront view. "I need to see my stove, then I need to see my table, the guests, and of course nature, water, beauty, flowers," she says. "I need that to stimulate me to feel good. I cook better when it looks better, just like a typical Italian."

Read more

Source: http://site.people.com/