Kitchen with a ‘View’

The mouth-watering aromas of escarole soup, gnocchi and, of course, turkey will waft throughout the Pierandozzis’ home on Thanksgiving Day.

Like most people who have opted to cook on the holiday, Cindy and Mike Pierandozzi will spend most of their time in the kitchen, preparing the meal for their four children and extended family.

But unlike most people, the Pierandozzis, of the 1100 block of Jackson Street, will be cooking their Thanksgiving feast in a brand-new kitchen — courtesy of ABC’s daytime talk show The View.

A loyal viewer of the female-oriented chatfest, Cindy Pierandozzi entered the show’s contest to win a Sears kitchen makeover in time for Thanksgiving.

"Because of this, I can finally have holidays at my house with my parents, my brother and his family," she said. "That’s what counts — just to have us all together. Instead of us going to my mother’s for every holiday, now we can share."

Crews finished working on the kitchen yesterday, and the Pierandozzis will get their first look at it today.

In her letter to The View, Pierandozzi detailed her kitchen woes: a hole in the ceiling, ripped linoleum, non-working appliances, no counter space, an oven door that wouldn’t stay open and windows that were painted shut.

The couple never had much of a budget for repairs or renovations, instead prioritizing a Catholic education for their children — Marisa, 13; Christina, 12; Jenna, 11; and Anthony, 5. Cindy is a homemaker and Mike works as a transportation inspector.

After receiving Pierandozzi’s entry, View producer Dana Goodman called the home to express her interest and to request photos of the kitchen.

The View asked for more photos after that and then called the first week in November to inform the family that they were among 20 or so finalists.

A week later, the show’s producers had another update: The Pierandozzis were now in a pool of five finalists.

Soon, the producers made their choice, but kept it secret from the Pierandozzi family. They got to work on planning a surprise kitchen makeover.

The View contacted Philadelphia-based Banyan Productions’ producer Andrew Scher, who recommended Libby Langdon, host of Design Invasion, to restyle the new kitchen.

Banyan produces Langdon’s television series, which airs Monday through Friday at 1:30 p.m. on Fox 29.

"I was absolutely thrilled. It’s so incredibly exciting," the host said at the Pierandozzi home on Monday.

This is not the first televised residential makeover in South Philly. In May, The Learning Channel’s Trading Spaces chose two families on the 1900 block of Durfor Street to redesign each other’s living rooms.

Langdon said the scope of the Pierandozzi kitchen project was quite extensive.

"Design Invasion is done in one day and it’s more cosmetic. This is a full new kitchen in five days," said the designer, who had full creative control of the renovation.

Last Thursday, a View crew, along with Langdon and members of Banyan, showed up at the Pierandozzi home with cameras rolling for the "knock and shock."

"We totally ambushed" the Pierandozzis, said Banyan’s Beth Thompson. "It’s all live. We walked up and knocked on the door. Her reaction was totally what we want in a live guest."

View cohost Elisabeth Hasselbeck was there, too. She helms the show with Joy Behar, Meredith Vieira and Star Jones Reynolds. The View also features Barbara Walters, the show’s originator and producer.

When Pierandozzi saw the cameras and microphone at her door, she knew she had won the contest.

"My husband and I were just screaming. We were thrilled," she said. "From that moment on, my life has changed. They came in with all the camera people, producers. They just took over my house."

Cindy was handed a hatchet and told to go to town on her kitchen. A camera crew was rolling as she tore into the cabinetry. The footage will be shown Monday in a "before" segment on The View. The next day, the Pierandozzis will appear live on the show with Langdon, and the kitchen will be unveiled for viewers.

"The fun of a before-and-after show is the big contrast — an amazing change from where it started and where it ends up," Langdon said.

Hammering and sawing at the Pierandozzi residence started bright and early Saturday. Neighbors didn’t seem to mind. Some even told Langdon they were thrilled for the family, who has lived on the block for 15 years.

The View put up the Pierandozzis at a local hotel while contractors and television folks invaded their home for five days.

While it wasn’t easy living out of suitcases, Pierandozzi, 44, said she’d gladly do it again for a new kitchen.

"This is so worth it. This is like a dream come true," she said, adding that a new kitchen means the world to the couple since they both love to cook and entertain.

ABC brought in a general contractor all the way from Milwaukee to head the project. Scott Riemer and brother/business partner Bob supervised a six-man crew. The network chose Riemer because they wanted "quality Midwestern work," he said.

South Philly-based plumber Patrick McDonald of Onion Flats LLC and electrician Rich Kohn of Electric Pro Inc. rounded out the team.

Riemer flew out last Friday to assess the scene and then arrived early Saturday to begin the daunting task of installing a kitchen, top to bottom, in just five days.

"We’re making the impossible happen and making it beautiful," said the contractor.

The Pierandozzis return home today to see their new kitchen.

"I cannot wait. This is all we think about. It’s all we’re talking about," Cindy Pierandozzi said earlier this week. "We are overjoyed, because anything they do will be better than what we had, so this is just wonderful."