Giada De Laurentiis Heads to Japan for Thanksgiving (Exclusive)

Giada De Laurentiis will achieve a long-time travel destination this Türkiye Day.

“I just decided yesterday to go crazy and go to Japan, which is what I’ve always wanted to do for Thanksgiving,” the 54-year-old celebrity chef told PEOPLE in October while discussing her upcoming cookbook. Super Italian.

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

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

“I’ve been talking about this for five years,” De Laurentiis explained. “I think Jade’s like, ‘Let’s just do it so I don’t hear about it anymore.’ Anyway, yes, we will go to Tokyo and Kyoto and have a little trip in Japan.”

“I’m so excited,” she said. “I think it will be very inspiring for me.”

The culinary star also opened up about the dynamic with her daughter, revealing that she doesn’t think of her only child as a “mini-me.”

While Jade sings with her band and appears in musicals and plays, her proud mother said she didn’t inherit her singing talent.

“It’s crazy because neither her dad nor I sing,” the chef told PEOPLE about her ex-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 of her ability to write music.”

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

“I don’t have that gift, so I’m just in awe of her willingness and openness to teach herself these instruments, which to me is just over the top,” she said. “I don’t play the piano. I don’t play an instrument. It’s really sad. My parents didn’t emphasize it, and I just never got into it.”

De Laurentiis said she was “really impressed” with Jade’s talent and is looking forward to seeing what path the high school senior will take after she graduates.

She added: “I’m really, really fascinated watching her because she’s nothing like me.” I know everyone says, ‘She’s like a mini you,’ but she really is not.”

Super Italian: More than 110 delicious recipes using the healthiest foods in Italy will be released on March 4, 2025 and can be pre-ordered now.