Felice Bastianich | Sibilings, Wife And Married Life

Restaurant owner Felice Bastianich, often known as Felice “Felix” Bastianich, is still well-known years after his passing and is sadly missed by those who enjoyed his amazing cooking. The late restaurateur passed away at age 70. What caused him to pass away?

After marrying the talented Italian-American celebrity chef Lidia Bastianich, Bastianich gained notoriety. Following the couple’s divorce, Felice gave up running his restaurant and gave his kids full ownership of the business. This is Felice’s whole biography, which also includes information about his family history and other undiscovered truths. Let’s enlarge!

Felice Bastianich Immigrated From Croatia

On November 30, 1940, he was born in Istarska, Croatia. He eventually relocated to the US and made his permanent home there.

Regarding nationality, Felice, the late husband of Lidia Bastianich, held dual citizenship with the United States and Croatia. His ethnic heritage was mixed.

Siblings of Felice Bastianich

Yolanda Valic and Guerino Bastianich, Bastianich’s two siblings, were born and raised in Labin, a small hamlet in Istria. There is no updated information available on his family.

Was Originally A Restaurant Employee Felice has had a deep love of dining and establishments from a young age. He learned the culinary arts by working in a few restaurants at first, and then he and his Croatian wife launched their own company.

How Did Felice Bastianich and Lidia Bastianich Get Married?

At Lidia’s sixteenth birthday celebration, the two initially crossed paths. in Ate time, they were both employed in restaurants. By the time she was fourteen, Felice’s wife Lidia was working part-time in the bakery; after graduating from high school, she began working full-time. She used to work at a pizzeria on Manhattan’s upper west side.

Upper West Sidea started dating soon after they initially met, and they dated for almost three years before getting married in 1966. In front of the couple’s relatives and friends, they said their vows in a stunning ceremony.

They spent a long time enjoying a happy married life. Additionally, the couple’s common passion for food led to the opening of other eateries.

“Buonavia” was Felice and Lidia’s first restaurant.

The husband and wife team founded their first restaurant, Buonavia, which translates to “good road,” in 1971 after years of expertise. It was situated in Queens’ Forest Hills, a residential area. They hired the talented Italian-American chef right away. According to Lidia, New York Lifestyles was informed that the restaurant’s menu was established by replicating the menu items of the top Italian restaurants in the city.

Following the tremendous success of their first eatery, the couple opened Villa Secondo, their second eatery, in Queens. It also rose to fame. Lidia once said, regarding their restaurant operation,

“The restaurant gained so much popularity that we caught the interest of some of New York’s top food critics. I began to demonstrate how to cook.

But the two sold the two Queens eateries when her father Vittorio Matticchio passed away in 1981. Subsequently, the two Bastianichs acquired a modest Manhattan brownstone. There was a restaurant there.

Later, Felice and Lidia gave it the name Felidia, which is an abbreviation for their first names. The New York Times gave it a three-star rating and it became an instant smash, just like their other two Queens eateries.

They Had Two Kids Together

On September 17, 1968, Felice and his spouse welcomed their first kid, a son named Joe Bastianich, into Queens, New York.

Four years later, Lidia gave birth to their daughter Tanya Bastianich Manuali, becoming them parents for the theirnd time.

Their Offspring Become Successful Chefs: Collaborating With Their Parents

At first, Joseph worked as a bond trader on Wall Street. Before persuading them to join him in his own restaurant, Beccocated in Manhattan’s Theater District, he also used to assist his parents in their business. AfAfterwardhe launched eateries in Pittsburgh and Kansas.

In 2010, Eataly, a gourmet emporium located in Manhattan, was opened by Joe, his mother Bastianich, and Oscar Farinetti. In addition, the restaurateur is a well-known TV personality who was a judge on the MasterChef reality series.

Turning now to their daughter Tanya, who graduated from Georgetown University, she joined the family restaurant company. Together with her mother, she co-owns two eateries, Felidia and Lidia’s Kansas City. Additionally, in 2019 Tanya and her brother Joe opened Del Posto, Babbo, Lupa, Otto, Pizzeria Mozza, and other restaurants.

Tanya graduated from Syracuse University with a master’s degree. In 2000, she also received a doctorate from Oxford University. In addition to running the family business, Bastianich is a prosperous novelist and businesswoman.

Why Did Felice and Lidia File for Divorce After Thirty Years?

For more than thirty years, the couple enjoyed a wonderful marriage, but after having severe arguments about how quickly their business could grow, their relationship began to become increasingly complicated. In 1997, the two were divorced.

Felice left his shares to his children after their divorce.

Felice Bastianich Passed Away at Age 70; What Caused It?

At the age of 70, Mr. Bastianich passed away on December 12, 2010. Felice was well-known, but his family didn’t disclose anything about him, including the reason for his passing.

His two children and five grandchildren—Lorenzo, Miles, Ethan, Olivia, and Julia—remain in his life.

Net Worth

Felice had a $1 million net worth at the time of his passing, according to sources. His ex-wife Lidia, on the other hand, is currently worth $16 million. Her restaurant business, along with several other ventures, is her primary source of revenue.

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