Joe Bastianich
Bastianich in 2010, photo by kathclick/Bigstock.com
Birth Name: Joseph Bastianich
Place of Birth: Astoria, Queens, New York City, New York, U.S.
Date of Birth: September 17, 1968
Ethnicity: Italian, Croatian, Slovenian
Joe Bastianich is an American restaurateur, winemaker, author, television personality, and musician.
Joe is the son of Lidia Bastianich (born Lidia Giuliana Matticchio) and Felice “Felix” Bastianich/Bastianić. His mother is a chef, television host, author, and restaurateur. Joe’s parents were born and raised in Istria, a peninsula that is now part of Croatia. Felice was from Brovinje. Lidia is from Pula. Joe and his mother own over thirty restaurants.
Joe has Italian, Croatian, and Slovenian ancestry, a mix that occurred over many generations in the region his family is from.
Joe is married to Deanna, with whom he has three children.
Joe’s maternal grandfather was Vittorio Matticchio/Motika (the son of Antonio Motika and Francesca Lovrecich). Vittorio was born in Pula, Istria, then the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Antonio was born in Žminj, now Croatia, the son of Silvestro Motika and Catherina. The name Motika means a “hoe,” the agricultural tool, in several Slavic languages.
Joe’s maternal grandmother was Erminia Pavichievaz (the daughter of Giovanni Pavichievaz and Rosaria Smilovich). Erminia was born in Tupliacco, Istria, Italy. Rosaria was the daughter of Giovanni Smolovich Karlic and Francesca Lukšić.
A DNA test whose results were displayed on the show Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. (2016) stated that Joe’s mother’s genetic ancestry is:
*63% Eastern Europe
*28% Italy & Greece
*6% Europe West
*3% Trace Region
Sources: Obituary of Joe’s father – http://www.legacy.com
Article about Joe’s mother’s appearance on Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr., 2016 – https://bringsomethingtothetableblog.wordpress.com
Genealogy of Joe Bastianich (focusing on his mother’s side) – https://www.geni.com
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