DURHAM, N.H. - Mary Ann Esposito, host of the long-running PBS cooking show "Ciao Italia," will spend the day at the University of New Hampshire March 31, 2010, as part of UNH Dining Services' Great Chefs on Campus series.

President Mark Huddleston and his wife, Emma Bricker, will assist Esposito during an afternoon cooking demonstration at Stillings Hall.

A UNH alum with a master's degree in food history, Esposito has taught in numerous cooking schools throughout Italy and is the author of 11 cookbooks. Her bread book "What You Knead" won the International Cookbook Revue award for best in its category, and was also named one of Food and Wine's top cookbooks. "Mangia Pasta" was nominated by the International Cookbook Revue as one of the three best cookbooks connected to a television series.

"Ciao Italia with Mary Ann Esposito" is in its 20th year. Readers can get tips, recipes and other cooking information on her blog at www.ciaoitalia.typepad.com. Her Web site is www.ciaoitalia.com.

The Great Chefs event will kickoff at 11 a.m. in Philbrook Hall where UNH chefs will use many of Esposito's "five ingredient favorites" (from her cookbook of the same title) to make delicious and affordable lunches, while from noon to 1:30, she will sign copies of her newest book. Lunch is free to all UNH meal plan holders. Adults,$12; children under 12, $6.

At 2 p.m., Esposito will move over to Stillings Hall where Huddleston and Bricker will join her in a cooking demonstration. A book signing and reception will follow.

An Italian dinner at Holloway Commons featuring some of Esposito's favorite recipes caps off the day. The great chef will be on hand to meet diners until 7 p.m. Free to all UNH meal plan holders. Adults, $16; children under 12, $8.

The Great Chefs series brings renowned chefs to campus to present cooking demos and work with the staff in Dining Services to make meals from their recipes. Past chefs have included Martin Yan and former White House chef Walter S. Scheib III.

The University of New Hampshire, founded in 1866, is a world-class public research university with the feel of a New England liberal arts college. A land, sea, and space-grant university, UNH is the state's flagship public institution, enrolling 12,200 undergraduate and 2,200 graduate students.

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