Lidia Celebrates America
A Traditional Afghan Meal with Lidia
Clip: Season 2023 Episode 1 | 2m 30sVideo has Closed Captions
Lidia shares an Afghan meal with a refugee who risked his life to help the US Military.
In Houston, TX, Lidia visits Khalil Arab. Once an interpreter with the U.S. military, Khalil works with wartime allies as they start new lives in the United States. Lidia has picked up the food at a local Afghan restaurant, because Khalil and his wife Ferra have a newborn baby. The food is similar to a traditional Afghan home-cooked meal, and Ferra adds a typical Afghan salad to the mix.
Funding for LIDIA CELEBRATES AMERICA is provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
Lidia Celebrates America
A Traditional Afghan Meal with Lidia
Clip: Season 2023 Episode 1 | 2m 30sVideo has Closed Captions
In Houston, TX, Lidia visits Khalil Arab. Once an interpreter with the U.S. military, Khalil works with wartime allies as they start new lives in the United States. Lidia has picked up the food at a local Afghan restaurant, because Khalil and his wife Ferra have a newborn baby. The food is similar to a traditional Afghan home-cooked meal, and Ferra adds a typical Afghan salad to the mix.
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25 Years with Lidia: A Culinary Jubilee
Roll back the years and take an intimate look at the trajectory of Lidia's life both on and off the screen. Delve into her inspiring journey with engaging videos, and meet the remarkable woman whose legacy continues to shine.Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship- [Lydia] I head across town to pick up a traditional Afghan meal.
(upbeat music playing) One of America's most diverse cities, Houston, has become home to more than 20,000 Afghans.
And has led the nation in resettling Afghan refugees since the fall of Kabul.
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
- Khalil Arab, wanted to cook for me, but when I learned he had a new newborn home, I offered to bring some of the food.
My grandmother would make pots of chicken soup and then homemade pasta, and that was what we took when we went visiting a new mother with a new child.
So, food is always the connecting communicator.
- Hi.
- Hey.
Hello.
- Hi, this is Dariya.
- Oh, Dariya.
How are you doing - This is Lidia.
- Got food.
- Oh, thank you.
Come on in.
- Dinner.
Alright.
- It's gonna be daddy's girl.
If I would tell my late mom that I'm having guests coming to my house and bringing food, she will frown.
- [Lidia] This is the.
- [Khalil] So, it's an Afghan flat bread.
Afghan hospitality would not allow that to happen.
It's a very extraordinary circumstance.
- Okay.
- I hope that this will be the closest representation of a homemade meal.
- [Lidia] Khalil tells me that in Afghanistan it is customary to invite travelers into your home for tea or a meal.
- [Khalil] Grand jewel of the table.
It's a Afghan, very typical, Afghan slash Herati salad.
Ferra.
My wife made it.
- Ah, Ferra.
- Yes.
- That's wonderful.
- [Ferra] So, you can start with Bolani.
- [Lidia] Can I take some vegetables?
- [Khalil] Absolutely.
You can take some of the sabzi.
(speaks in foreign language) Literally means bon appetito.
- [Lidia] Alright.
- [Khalil] In our culture, food is everything.
You put a plate of food on a table and you put three people together and then you realize there's so much similarities than there are differences.
- In Italian, we do a saluté.
Is there such thing in Afghan?
- Nosh.
- Nush.
- Okay, nush.
Thank you for having me in your home.
- Thanks for, thanks for being here.
We're very happy to have you.
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Video has Closed Captions
In Houston, Texas, Lidia makes a braised pork belly dish with blind chef Christine Ha. (3m 55s)
Video has Closed Captions
Lidia makes Borscht, Ukrainian style, with Polina Frishko and Enna Elias. (1m 34s)
A Cuban Chef in Louisville, KY
Video has Closed Captions
At Havana Rumba, Lidia meets Marcos Lorenzo and they make a traditional Cuban dish. (3m 17s)
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Video has Closed Captions
Lidia Bastianich shares stories of immigrants shaping what it means to be an American. (1m 41s)
Goat Curry and “Buss Up Shut” Paratha Roti
Video has Closed Captions
Jeanine Prime brings Goat Curry to a potluck for Lidia's special 'Flavors That Define Us'. (50s)
Gumbo: A Nigerian and American Southern Comfort Food Style
Video has Closed Captions
Toyin Alli brings Gumbo to the potluck for Lidia's special 'Flavors That Define Us.' (58s)
A Low Country Boil in South Carolina
Video has Closed Captions
Lidia is invited to a low-country boil for Ukrainian refugees including Polina Frishko. (2m 7s)
Nazanin Ash’s Dish: Persian Baklava
Video has Closed Captions
Naz Ash brings Persian Baklava to a potluck for Lidia's special 'Flavors That Define Us'. (1m 3s)
A Nepali-Bhutanese Refugee Makes History
Video has Closed Captions
Lidia visits Bhuwan Pyakurel, a Nepali-Bhutanese refugee making history. (2m 50s)
Punjabi Trucker turned Punjabi Dhaba Owner
Video has Closed Captions
Lidia enjoys authentic Punjabi dishes at a roadside truck stop in Bakersfield, CA. (3m)
Video has Closed Captions
Lidia organizes a potluck-style meal where immigrants share cuisine from their cultures. (3m 25s)
Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship
Funding for LIDIA CELEBRATES AMERICA is provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.