mymy conversation with lydia bastianich. "the wall street journal report" begins right now. >>> this is "the wall street journal report," now, maria bartiromo. >>> here is a look at what is making news as we head into a new week on wall street, some encouraging news for america's economy this week, the u.s. trade deficit in june was the smallest it has been in a year and a half, as lower oil prices curbed imports. america imported 42.9 billions worth of goods than it exported. >>> and trade is a c componenen gdp, and that could mean a stronger gross domestic product. we'll see about that. >>> and a stronger melt, the dow having the first winning streak in more than two months, and the window up for a fifth day in a row. first ti it happened in nearly five months, the markets up again on friday. >>> and we're toward the end of -- the news court met estimates, the retailers, macy's, kohls, and nordstrom beating expectations, jc penny fell short. >>> and the postal service reporting a loss of 5.2 biion for the third quarter, a

lydia bastianich, the italian mama to at-home cooks.g and teaching on public television since the 1990s, making her a pioneer in the relatively new career of celebrity chef. when we first brought you this story last year, the present paren newer a entrepreneur offered me a tasting tour of her ultimate passionate. >> 60,000 feet. >> reporter: television chef and restaurant owner lydia bastianich put her money where her mouth is. italy is the $20 million food temple to eating la dolce vita. >> 50% is retail, you can buy great chocolate or honeys, all from small italian producers. and the other 50 is prepared for restaurants. you saw the cafe. >> it is the first retail venture for lydia and her partners, son and renowned chef, mario ba tatali. heading up what might be the most successful empire. the three partnered with founder of original italy in turin. oscar forinetti. they hoped that a slice of italy in new york would generate some 60 million in annual sales. >> it was kind of an element of pulling together people, some with financial