Giada De Laurentiis Reveals Behind-the-Scenes Secrets of Her Cooking Videos with Her Daughter
Giada De Laurentiis is uncertain if her daughter, Jade, will embrace cooking like she does.
“I would say that she’s not as passionate about cooking as I am, and she won’t necessarily be following my path,” Giada, 54, exclusively told Us Weekly during the launch celebration of Peroni Italian Beer Ice. “We’re finding our own connection together, and I feel like we’re doing that through social media.”
On the Emmy-winning chef’s Instagram, followers can often find videos featuring Giada and 17-year-old Jade attempting new recipes together in the kitchen.
Although these clips have attracted fans due to their star power, Giada emphasizes that she never pressures her daughter into cooking.
“She’s into theater. She enjoys acting, singing, and performs in a band. Those are her true passions,” Giada explained. “Does she appreciate food? Yes. Can she whip up a mean pasta? Yes, but not for me. She’ll cook for her friends or her boyfriend, but not for me. With me, she prefers to explore new flavors and put her own spin on things she likes.”
Earlier this month, the mother-daughter pair tried a salmon cup recipe from Naughty Fork founder Sam Schnur. They’ve also shared their experiences with the Dubai chocolate trend and made Easter treats.
As Jade heads into another high school year, Giada fondly recalls introducing her daughter to the kitchen when she was younger.
“She was quite interested when she was little, and I encouraged that,” Giada shared. “I allowed her into the kitchen. … I let her browse cookbooks and select recipes she enjoyed. Typically, they featured a photo, which motivated her, and it helped me understand how to engage with kids, realizing that they tend to eat what they have a hand in choosing.”
Giada believes that the more parents involve their children in the kitchen, the more empowering the experience will be for them.
“That’s where Jade and I found our common ground,” she reflected. “I encourage parents to open cookbooks, let their kids choose what to cook, and that sparks conversation. This is how Jade and I have connected over time, and slowly, she’s picked up more cooking skills.”
This summer, Giada is excited to soak up the sun and savor delightful treats during the warm months.
As the official partner of Peroni Nastro Azzurro, Giada is unveiling Peroni Italian Beer Ice, which is advertised as a limited-edition Italian ice treat infused with beer, bringing a refreshing taste of Italy to fans across the country.
“We’ll be selling it online, and it’s fundamentally a lemon-based icy [with] lemon syrup, lemon zest, lemon juice, mint, and then the Peroni beer — it’s smooth, crisp, citrusy, and truly refreshing over the ice,” Giada teased. “I think it’ll be a lot of fun for people.”
Whether you can enjoy Giada’s incredible cuisine at her restaurants in Las Vegas or Scottsdale, Arizona, the best-selling cookbook author believes adults can relish the treat no matter their summer plans.
“My vision is to have a pizza party with Peroni Italian Beer Ice,” she noted. “I think together they make entertaining simple and enjoyable, and I believe it’s a unique idea that people might not have heard before. … It’s a chance to have fun without going overboard and suffering from a hangover the next day while staying hydrated.”
