Celebrity chef Donatella Arpaia has schooled competitors on “Iron Chef America” and built a New York City restaurant empire with celebrated spots including Mia Dona, Donatella and Kefi.

Now, this dining diva is set to build a personal empire: In less than a month, she's getting married. And she's finding that the most daunting wedding-planning task is choosing her menu. Can you imagine the pressure for a restaurateur to get it just right? The woman Zagat named “The Hostess with the Mostest” let TODAY.com follow her to the Plaza Hotel in New York City for her final wedding tasting before the big day.

What does an exacting food pro choose to feed her family and friends? There'll be citrus and lobster risotto (perfected in an extensive back-and-forth with executive chef Jack Kiggins), plus soy-glazed black cod, filet mignon and an array of exquisite mini desserts, including the cutest teeny-tiny ice cream cones.

The bride-to-be, who will be wearing a Monique Lhuillier gown made just for her, says she’s “obsessed with coconut” -- so her pastry chef will create the perfect coconut cake.

For culinary-minded couples planning their own events, Donatella offers one piece of advice: Don’t just choose or dismiss dishes because of what you like; think about what will thrill your guests and do your best to craft a well-rounded menu.