THE WINE & FOOD CRISIS IN THE U.S.? “IT EXISTS BUT IT IS NOT AS GRAVE AS THEY MAKE IT SEEM. IT’S MORE A WAITING PHASE FOR THE FUTURE. THIS ALSO GOES FOR WINE…” LIDIA BASTIANICH, ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS ITALIAN CHEFS IN AMERICA, TALKS ABOUT CRISIS

Lidia Bastianich, owner of over twenty restaurants in the U.S., has become an institution in the culinary world and a true “ambassador” for Italian cuisine in America as well as being a privileged observer of the restaurant sector and, more generally, of the market situation in the U.S. for Italian products.
And when interviewed by www.winenews.tv, Bastianich had a few important issues to clarify: “There is a bit of a crisis now, from 5 to 10%. But I have to say that it is not that grave, one feels the energy still there but clients are cautious. And wine is selling fairly well. Possibly the quality and price range has fallen a bit but quality can still be good at a lower price. Clients are not spending on big wines like before but they are still drinking. They are aware of what they are spending and what they are receiving. I think that they don’t want to spend for now, they are keeping money aside for an eventual future that I don’t think will arrive soon”.
Bastianich also wanted to clarify the discordant opinions that have been arriving from the U.S.: “It is definitely not like the catastrophic situation in the U.S. that has been depicted by Italy. The whole problem of the banks has to be reassessed but I have faith in the U.S. economy and the message that I feel coming from clients is positive in the sense that they are ready to spend when everything is okay. Michelle and Obama’s favorite cuisine is Italian and even though Obama preaches a lot about using local products, and it is fair that it is done to resolve the economy, he is more than willing to eat a plate of authentic Italian spaghetti!”.