The Italian cuisine will again be made from scratch in Lidia's Pittsburgh kitchen.
The owners of DiAnoia's Eatery are leasing kitchen space formerly owned by celebrity chef, author and restaurateur Lidia Bastianich, whose former Strip District restaurant, Lidia's Pittsburgh, was previously located there.
Bastianich, an Emmy Award-winning public television host, best-selling cookbook author and restaurateur, closed his Pittsburgh location after 18 years in August 2019.
The building sat vacant until Quatrini Law Group purchased the building on Smallman at 15th Street, and the front portion of the building is being renovated as office space for the law firm.
“We really needed this space and it came along at the perfect time,” says Amy DiAndrea, who co-owns DiAnoia's with her husband, chef Dave Anoia, “and we needed a place to operate our growing catering business.”
The location is also perfect because it's not far from the couple's other Strip businesses: Di Anoia, Pizzeria Davide and Pane e Pronto, the bakery and takeout joint where they did their catering.
Courtesy of Amy DeAndrea
Amy DeAndrea (left) and Dave Anoia (right), owners of the former Lidia's restaurant in the Strip District, pose with Lidia Bastianich, the celebrity chef, author and restaurateur, at a book signing for Bastianich's cookbook in May 2016.
Bastianich's connection dates back to when she hosted a cookbook signing that D'Andrea and Anoia attended in 2016.
“I remember before we opened our first restaurant, we went to a cookbook signing and told her about our restaurant, and she told us, 'Good luck,'” Anoia says. “That gave us even more confidence. It means a lot to us to be coming into a place where Lidia has worked. Lidia is the king of chefs.”
The couple heard about the available kitchen space from the Pennsylvania Restaurant and Lodging Association, where DeAndrea serves as a director for the association's western chapter.
“It's a really big kitchen,” Anoia said, “so we have plenty of space to operate and grow our catering business. It also frees up space elsewhere.”
The catering menu includes breakfast, lunch and dinner choices ranging from egg sandwiches, Italian donuts and other freshly baked pastries to hoagies, several salads, homemade pasta dishes, meatballs, sausage, peppers, eggplant, veal, chicken, roasted cauliflower, potatoes, fresh mozzarella and tiramisu, and also offers full-service custom family menus.
The couple recently cooked meals for 575 people for the Women's Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh's 50th anniversary celebration in May.
“This will allow us to host more events like this one,” DeAndrea said. “We're really excited about our kitchen.”
No major renovations are needed as the kitchen is already fully functional and is expected to be up and running within a month.
More info: dianoiaseatery.com
Joan Klimovich Harrop is a Triblive reporter covering the region's diverse culinary scene and unique homes. She writes feature stories about interesting people. The Edward R. Murrow Award-winning journalist began her career as a sports reporter. She has been with the Trib for 26 years and is the author of “A Daughter's Promise.” She can be reached at jharrop@triblive.com.
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