Italian Grill

Raised in Seattle, Mario Batali followed an initial career path that had him studying Spanish theater at Rutgers University in New Jersey. Soon after graduating, he began his culinary training at Le Cordon Bleu in London, from which he withdrew almost immediately due to a “lack of interest.” An apprenticeship with London’s legendary chef Marco Pierre White and training in an Italian village gave him the essential skills and knowledge to return to the United States to begin his restaurant empire.

With his partner Joe Bastianich, Batali operates eight New York City hot spots, the flagship of which is Babbo Ristorante e Enoteca, where he has seamlessly combined traditional principles with intelligent culinary adventure since 1998. The James Beard Foundation honored Babbo with the Best New Restaurant award and The New York Times gave it three stars, as well as later to Del Posto, another formal dining establishment. Batali and Bastianich also own the Roman-style trattoria Lupa, the southern Italian seafood trattoria Esca, Otto Enoteca Pizzeria, the Spanish tapas bar Bar Jamon, the Spanish taverna Casa Mono, and the wine shop Italian Wine Merchants. And Batali is a new partner of the Spotted Pig. In Las Vegas, Batali and Bastianich opened B&B Ristorante and the more casual Enoteca San Marco at the Venetian Hotel, and a steakhouse also opened there in early 2008. They have also joined forces with Nancy Silverton for the recently opened Pizzeria Mozza and Osteria Mozza in Los Angeles.

Batali has hosted his own TV programs, Molto Mario, Mario Eats Italy, and Ciao America with Mario Batali, and he has appeared on Iron Chef America on the Food Network. He has also appeared on Mark Bittman’s PBS show, The Best Recipes in the World, and the Sundance Channel’s Iconoclasts, with Michael Stipe. He has five cookbooks: Simple Italian Food, Mario Batali Holiday Food, The Babbo Cookbook, and most recently, Molto Italiano, winner of the James Beard Award for International Cookbook, as well as Mario Tailgates NASCAR Style. In 2006 Bill Buford published Heat, the book that takes you behind the scenes in Batali’s kitchen. Among his many culinary accolades, Batali was named Man of the Year in the Chef category by GQ magazine, and from the James Beard Foundation, both Best Chef: New York City and Outstanding Chef of the Year. Since 2003, Batali has been a vital part of the Food Bank, serving on its board and participating in numerous hunger awareness campaigns.

Batali lives in New York City with his wife Susi Cahn of Coach Dairy Goat Farm and their two sons.

http://www.mariobatali.com/

“In his new cookbook, Italian Grill, the star chef steps up to the grate with amazing recipes that express his extroverted approach to flavor.”