Giada at Home — Season 1

Block Parties are always a great way to get to know your neighbors, so Giada decides to take charge of her neighborhood event and make it extra special. She plans a party at the end of her cul de sac with each neighbor showcasing their favorite family foods. Giada's menu foregoes the typical outdoor party food with chic and out of the ordinary dishes.

Giada spends Halloween afternoon preparing delicious treats to celebrate the fall season. The cool part is that these trick-or-treats are homemade and would satisfy any sweet tooth year-round. Giada's girlfriends stop by with their kids to sample the goodies before heading out into the neighborhood to trick or treat. Giada surprises them with a professional face painter who transforms their faces for the big night.

It is a trip down memory lane. Giada is inspired to create a nostalgic Italian meal after looking through old photos of her childhood in Rome. Family members visit Giada in the kitchen as she cooks a menu that highlights some of her favorite Italian food memories. Lifestyle elements include an excursion to The Cheese Shop in Beverly Hills for fresh Mozzarella from Italy.

Giada hosts a beautiful garden party to celebrate Earth Day. Giada's menu incorporates ingredients from her garden and local Santa Monica Farmers Market with Red Snapper With Fava Bean Puree, Fried Cheese-Stuffed Zucchini Blossoms and Mini Pineapple Cakes. She also provides tips on how to "go green" in your kitchen.

Giada combines her love of fashion and food by hosting a trunk show that highlights the work of three of her favorite designer friends. Since the clothing is a mix, the menu also includes an eclectic blend of flavors. Plus, the food that Giada makes is really easy to eat while walking around the house and mingling with guests ... it's also stylish, creative and artfully presented.

It's Thanksgiving. L.A. Style. Giada serves up a Thanksgiving meal with a few twists.

Giada prepares a fun and festive menu for an outdoor California-Style Barbecue. The menu incorporates Todd's favorite foods ... it's All-American, but it incorporates fresh ingredients and inventive flavors. Giada makes Mini Italian Pub Burgers, Beer-Battered Apple and Onion Rings and Spicy Chocolate Milkshakes.

Giada prepares food for a traditional lobster bake with friends. The group will gather at the beach to build a 3-4 foot hole in the sand that will be used as the "oven" to cook the lobsters Giada buys at Santa Monica Seafood.

Giada celebrates the Christmas season by hosting a holiday get-together with friends. The theme this year is a Secret Santa Gift Exchange and each guest has picked a name prior to the festivities. At the party, everyone will receive a thoughtful gift and discover the identity of their Santa. It's also a night of fun, laughter and really great food that celebrates Giada's Italian roots and the joy of the season.

In Italy, "eggs for dinner" is very common so Giada prepares a delicious menu that is perfect for a relaxed and casual night with lots of candlelight and comfy attire. With a trip to LA Mill Coffee for espresso beans.

Giada invites her Aunt Raffy into the kitchen for a recipe swap. Everyone has a recipe that is a favorite and has been passed down through generations.

Giada prepares a menu for a relaxing Spa Day at home with her friends. The husbands and kids head off for a day at the park so Giada and the other moms may enjoy spa treatments and a lunch full of comfort food. On the menu are Roasted Tomatoes With Garlic, Gorgonzola and Herbs, Chocolate Rice Pudding and a Sweet Basil Smoothie.

Giada is inspired to create a meal full of citrus flavors with Grilled Chicken and Avocado Napoleons, Citrus Salad and Angel Food Cake With Lemon Honey Yogurt Sauce. Giada also makes an impromptu visit to a lemonade stand set up by some neighborhood kids.

There's nothing quite like a poolside cocktail party with live music and amazing food. Giada takes the "exotic" up a notch by making this summer fancy a Moroccan- themed gathering, timed perfectly for sunset.

Giada is inspired to throw a sushi making party at home, and invites a few friends over to hang out in the kitchen and make their own rolls. They make a Fun Salmon Hand Roll, Vegetable Rolls With Chili Mayonnaise and a Crab, Avocado and Mango Roll.

Giada prepares brunch for a day at a polo match at Will Rogers State Park. Giada's brunch menu is practical for any outdoor spectator event - portable, colorful and flavorful, but still on the healthy side.

Giada and her husband Todd hire a babysitter and plan a very memorable date night at home. Giada plans the menu and makes the food, while Todd takes care of every other detail.

Giada creates a backyard dinner inspired by recent vacation to Paris. Giada plans an evening that reflects the flavors, adventures and activities of the trip - it's an opportunity to bring the travel experience back home.

Giada prepares food for a bridal shower she is co-hosting for a close friend. Instead of the typical mini-sandwiches, cake and punch, she offers a unique menu that is both playful and unexpected ... plus some decorating tips and thoughtful gift ideas for the bride to be. On the menu are Open-Faced Tuna Sandwiches With Arugula and Sweet-Pickle Mayonnaise, White Bean and Roasted Eggplant Hummus and Coffee-Glazed Zeppole.

Giada and Todd set out together for a day outdoors, on a day-hike. Giada goes to Adventure 16 to gear up, and then prepares the food that she'll pack for their hike. Giada makes food that's as lightweight and produces as little garbage as possible, making Homemade Cranberry Nut Granola, Grilled Vegetable, Herb and Goat Cheese Sandwiches and Chocolate Raspberry Bars with White Chocolate and Almonds.

Giada transforms part of her home into a gallery for one night to host an art show and display the work of one of her artist friends, Darren Quinn. Giada's party menu will be as colorful as the paintings, but also easy to eat since guests will be mingling and viewing art. Darren lives on Maui so the party decor will have a Hawaiian feel to set the mood and accent his artwork.

Giada prepares a picnic that she and Todd will enjoy at an outdoor concert. The menu is both portable and delicious, offering a fun and unexpected twist on the typical picnic fare with Devilled Eggs With Crab, Caponata Panini and Chocolate Honey Almond Tart.

Giada makes fun, light, happy food that celebrates the arrival of spring.

Giada invites a girlfriend over for a casual meal by the fireplace where they enjoy Grilled Asparagus and Melon Salad, Fusilli With Spicy Pesto and Espresso Caramel Bars.

Before heading out for dinner with Todd and two other couples, Giada first invites everyone over for a few light appetizers and a cocktail. On the menu are Spiced Cocktail Nuts, Cheese-Stuffed Dates With Prosciutto, Crispy Zucchini and Potato Pancackes and to drink, Blueberry-Limoncello Cooler.

A pasta buffet baked pasta, stuffed pasta, pasta salad. Different shapes, cuts, colors and flavors.

It s Mother s Day weekend and Giada invites a couple of her friends over, along with their kids, for a brunch honoring the Moms.

Friends, family and their kids come over for an evening of fun. Giada has hired a babysitter and has put the kids outside where she's set up beanbags, snacks and games, while the grown-ups are inside playing poker. But the menu -- Zucchini and Olive Flatbread, Cauliflower and Bacon Gratin and Mascarpone Chocolate Toffee Bars -- is suitable for both adults and kids.

Giada prepares an amazing luncheon to thank all the key people on her team. She makes Brown Butter Risotto With Lobster, Smoked Salmon and Apple Carpaccio and Cinnamon Twists With Cardamom-Honey Dipping Sauce.

Giada have invited a few friends over last minute, so Giada whips up something that's really easy but looks like she slaved all day. On the last minute menu are Israeli Couscous With Apples, Cranberries and Herbs, Chicken Burgers With Garlic-Rosemary Mayonnaise and Toasted Pound Cake With Citrus Cream.

Giada prepares a cohesive menu based on her love of world cuisine. Giada s menu represents Trinidad, India and an Italian fusion creation.

Giada helps the kids prepare a Father s Day tea party for the Dads. Giada makes the food, but the kids help Giada take the food to the table and serve the Dads.

Giada's friends are in a band and they have been on the road touring and eating craft services. Giada decides to have them over for a good home cooked meal of Penne With Braised Short Ribs, Bibb Salad With Parmesan Butter Crostini and Apple Cider Shandy.

Giada makes three recipes that are all framed around one main ingredient that she loves- CHEESE!

It's the annual De Laurentiis volleyball tournament and this year Giada is in charge of the food. Giada makes a portable menu of Thyme Pasta Frittata, Perfectly Crunchy Slaw and Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies that travels to Will Rogers State Beach.

Giada packs the perfect picnic for a trip on the road. She gives tips on how to make the meal easy to eat in the car or at a picnic spot. With recipes for Chicken and Arugula Pita Pockets, Penne With Treviso and Goat Cheese and Raspberry-Vanilla Smoothie.

Todd and his buddies are out at sea kite surfing and hungry for some good surf and turf, so Giada prepares a fabulous warm and hearty meal of White Bean and Chicken Chili, Cheddar and Scallion Bread and Limoncello Granita for the famished sportsmen.

Carolyna is home from college and Giada is making her a "good to be home" meal with Turkey Milanese, Bacon and Pancetta Potatoes and Roasted Apple Pies With Whipped Cream.

We follow Giada from breakfast to dinner and capture everything in between. She shows us that there is always time to cook a delicious meal. Giada also buys one of her favorite desserts at Vanilla Bake Shop.

Dessert, dessert and more dessert. Giada makes Pomegranate and Mint Sorbet, Strawberry and Rosemary Scones and Chocolate-Hazelnut Dipped Fruit.

Giada prepares mini versions of some of her favorite dishes, including Apricot and Walnut Phyllo Cups, Stuffed Baby Peppers, Tomato Basil Tartlets and Whole-Wheat Pita Chips With Mascarpone-Chive Dipping Sauce.

Giada and her friends do volunteer work at a community garden on behalf of OXFAM, an organization that fights world hunger. Giada also packs a tasty picnic of Pecorino and Bean Salad, Smoked Salmon BLT and Ginger-Tea Lemonade to enjoy after their efforts.

Giada's friend has just had a baby so she puts together a best wishes basket for the new mom with dishes that may be re-heated.

Giada creates a family style meal of Artichoke and Bean Crostini, Vegetable Parmesan and Melon and Mint Slush for a makeover party to be enjoyed by her girlfriends. She's invited over her makeup artist to give fun makeup tips and suggestions to her guests after they enjoy the tasty dishes.

Giada shows people how to make the most of their money when it comes to using ingredients you may already have in the fridge or in the pantry. She makes Pea Pesto Crostini, Lemon Chicken Soup With Spaghetti and Lemon-Mint Cake With Lemon Syrup.

Giada spends an afternoon teaching kids how to cook a simple meal at a local cooking school.