Giada De Laurentiis Is Leaving the U.S. for Thanksgiving: ‘It's Going to Be Very Inspirational’ (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Giada De Laurentiis.Photo:Francis Specker/CBS/Getty

Francis Specker/CBS/Getty

Giada De Laurentiiswill be fulfilling a longtime travel goal this Turkey Day.“I just decided yesterday that I am going to go nuts and go to Japan, which I’ve always wanted to for Thanksgiving,” the celebrity chef, 54, told PEOPLE in October when discussing her upcoming cookbook,Super-Italian.“My family’s like, ‘What? You can’t leave,’ because I’m usually the cook at Thanksgiving, so I think they’re freaking out a little bit,” she said. “But I am so excited.”The Food Network alum’s 16-year-old daughter, Jade, was on board with the plan, she added.“I’ve been talking about it for five years,” De Laurentiis explained. “I think Jade’s like, ‘Let’s just do it so I can stop hearing about it.’ Anyway, yes, we’re going to go to Tokyo and Kyoto and do a little excursion in Japan.”“I’m so thrilled,” she said. “I think it’s going to be very inspirational for me.“Giada De Laurentiis and daughter Jade.Eric Charbonneau/GettyThe culinary star also opened up about her dynamic with her daughter,revealingthat she doesn’t consider her only child a “mini me.”While Jade sings with her band and performs in musicals and plays, her proud mom said a talent for singing isn’t a trait she passed down.“It’s crazy because neither her father or I sing,” the chef told PEOPLE of herex-husband Todd Thompson. “Nobody in my family sings. I mean, we all love music, but not like that. Maybe in the shower. I’m always speechless when it comes to Jade and her music, because she’s able to write music.”Tokyo.GettyNever miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Jade taught herself to play the keyboard during the pandemic, and is learning to play the guitar on her own, De Laurentiis said.“I don’t have that gift, so I am just in such awe of her willingness and her openness at teaching herself these instruments that to me are just beyond,” she said. “I don’t play the piano. I don’t play any instrument. It’s really sad. It wasn’t something my parents highlighted, and I just never went for it.”De Laurentiis said she’s “truly impressed” with Jade’s talent, and is looking forward to seeing what path the high school junior will pursue when she graduates.She added, “I’m really, really fascinated to watch her because she is nothing like me. I know everybody says, ‘She’s like a mini you,’ but she really isn’t.”Super Italian: More Than 110 Indulgent Recipes Using Italy’s Healthiest Foodswill be released on March 4, 2025, and isavailable for preorder now.

Giada De Laurentiiswill be fulfilling a longtime travel goal this Turkey Day.

“I just decided yesterday that I am going to go nuts and go to Japan, which I’ve always wanted to for Thanksgiving,” the celebrity chef, 54, told PEOPLE in October when discussing her upcoming cookbook,Super-Italian.

“My family’s like, ‘What? You can’t leave,’ because I’m usually the cook at Thanksgiving, so I think they’re freaking out a little bit,” she said. “But I am so excited.”

The Food Network alum’s 16-year-old daughter, Jade, was on board with the plan, she added.

“I’ve been talking about it for five years,” De Laurentiis explained. “I think Jade’s like, ‘Let’s just do it so I can stop hearing about it.’ Anyway, yes, we’re going to go to Tokyo and Kyoto and do a little excursion in Japan.”

“I’m so thrilled,” she said. “I think it’s going to be very inspirational for me.”

Giada De Laurentiis and daughter Jade.Eric Charbonneau/Getty

Eric Charbonneau/Getty

The culinary star also opened up about her dynamic with her daughter,revealingthat she doesn’t consider her only child a “mini me.”

While Jade sings with her band and performs in musicals and plays, her proud mom said a talent for singing isn’t a trait she passed down.

“It’s crazy because neither her father or I sing,” the chef told PEOPLE of herex-husband Todd Thompson. “Nobody in my family sings. I mean, we all love music, but not like that. Maybe in the shower. I’m always speechless when it comes to Jade and her music, because she’s able to write music.”

Tokyo.Getty

Getty

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Jade taught herself to play the keyboard during the pandemic, and is learning to play the guitar on her own, De Laurentiis said.

“I don’t have that gift, so I am just in such awe of her willingness and her openness at teaching herself these instruments that to me are just beyond,” she said. “I don’t play the piano. I don’t play any instrument. It’s really sad. It wasn’t something my parents highlighted, and I just never went for it.”

De Laurentiis said she’s “truly impressed” with Jade’s talent, and is looking forward to seeing what path the high school junior will pursue when she graduates.

She added, “I’m really, really fascinated to watch her because she is nothing like me. I know everybody says, ‘She’s like a mini you,’ but she really isn’t.”

Super Italian: More Than 110 Indulgent Recipes Using Italy’s Healthiest Foodswill be released on March 4, 2025, and isavailable for preorder now.

source: people.com