About Mario

One of the most recognized and respected culinary experts in America today, Mario Batali is a critically acclaimed chef, restaurateur, television personality, award-winning author and philanthropist.

Raised in Seattle by his parents, Dino ’59 and Marilyn Batali, Mario studied Spanish theater at Rutgers University. Soon after graduating, he took his first bite of culinary training at Le Cordon Bleu in London, from which he withdrew almost immediately due to a “lack of interest.” Fortunately, that didn’t stick — an apprenticeship with London’s legendary chef Marco Pierre White and three years of intense culinary training in the northern Italian village of Borgo Capanne (population 200) gave him the essential skills and knowledge to return to his native U.S., ready to make his mark on the culinary world.

Today, the innovative restaurateur owns dining establishments in New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Singapore with his business partner, Joe Bastianich. From Babbo Ristorante e Enoteca in Greenwich Village to Carnevino Italian Steakhouse in Las Vegas to Osteria Mozza and Pizzeria Mozza in Los Angeles, Mario boasts an expansive epicurean empire. Mario’s newest undertaking, Eataly—a 50,000 square foot marketplace located on Fifth Avenue in New York City—is a gourmand’s delight, featuring seasonal and authentic foods of Italy.

Mario has hosted a variety of television shows for The Food Network, including Ciao America, Molto Mario and Iron Chef America. He is a host of ABC's new daytime talk show, The Chew, which premiered in September of 2011. In 2008, Mario co-starred with Mark Bittman, Gwyneth Paltrow and Spanish actress Claudia Bassols in Spain…On the Road Again, a PBS prime-time series that followed the foursome’s adventures eating their way through Spain. Mario is also a frequent guest on The Today Show, Good Morning America, CBS Early Show, MARTHA and Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. Mario recently appeared on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and Charlie Rose.

In October of 2011, Mario will release his ninth cookbook, Molto Batali: Simple Family Meals from My Home to Yours (Ecco). His 2010 cookbook, Molto Gusto (Ecco 2010), offers recipes for the classic and celebrated dishes of his restaurant, Otto Enoteca Pizzeria. Other titles from the prolific chef include Simple Italian Food (Clarkson Potter, 1998), Mario Batali Holiday Food (Clarkson Potter, 2000), The Babbo Cookbook (Clarkson Potter, 2002), and Molto Italiano: 327 Simple Italian Recipes (Ecco, 2005). With actress Gwyneth Paltrow, he co-authored Spain…A Culinary Road Trip (Ecco 2008) as a companion cookbook to the PBS series.

Mario’s passion and success has earned him many accolades, including being named GQ Magazine’s “Man of the Year” (1999) in the chef category, the James Beard Foundation’s “Best Chef: New York City” (2002) and the James Beard Foundation’s “Outstanding Chef of the Year” (2005). Mario was also named to the 2001 D’Artagnan Cervena Who’s Who of Food & Beverage in America, a prestigious lifetime achievement award.

In 2008, Mario started the Mario Batali Foundation, with a mission of feeding, protecting, educating and empowering children. To learn more Mario’s mission, visit www.mariobatalifoundation.org.

Easily recognizable by his trademark orange Crocs, Mario can be seen zipping around New York City on his Vespa. With his wife, Susi Cahn of Coach Dairy Goat Farm and their two sons, Mario splits his time between his two homes — one in Greenwich Village and the other in northern Michigan.

To learn more about Mario and his many ventures, visit www.mariobatali.com.