Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

PBS Chef Serves Pope in New York

NEW YORK (AP) Celebrity chef Lidia Bastianich says Pope Francis ate healthfully during his stay in New York City.

Bastianich and restaurateur Angelo Vivolo  were once again in charge of preparing and serving all the meals for the pope during his 40-hour stay in New York, a job they also handled during Pope Benedict's visit in 2008.

They say Francis' five-meal New York menu took its cue from the pontiff's simple lifestyle and healthy diet in Rome. His doctor reportedly is trying to get him to lose 15 pounds.

Lidia Bastianich

Highlights included Thursday's appetizer, a juicy salad of heirloom tomatoes with steamed lobster and house-made burrata cheese.

Friday's menu included homemade ravioli filled with shredded pears and pecorino cheese, and a main course of roasted striped bass. 

The Associated Press is one of the largest and most trusted sources of independent newsgathering, supplying a steady stream of news to its members, international subscribers and commercial customers. AP is neither privately owned nor government-funded; instead, it's a not-for-profit news cooperative owned by its American newspaper and broadcast members.