Bastianich moved to Astoria in Queens, New York, as a child after her family was forced to flee from their Italian home during World War II. Having developed a deep passion for baking and cooking, the young Bastianich eventually got a part-time job at Walken's Bakery, a local business operated by the parents of none other than Christopher Walken. The bakery was located right across the street from Bastianich's home, and the families actually had something in common. Paul Walken, Christopher's father, was also an immigrant, having moved to the U.S. from Germany, In an interview with GBH News, Bastianich says, "He was a great baker. Walken's Bakery was really popular."