Mario Batali was born in Seattle, Washington, on September 19, 1960, as Mario Francesco Batali. Marilyn (who died in 2020), Armandino (founder of Seattle’s Salumi restaurant), and two brothers raised him. While attending Rutgers University in New Jersey, Mario worked as a cook at Stuff Yer Face, a New Brunswick restaurant and tavern.
He majored in theatre and economics at Rutgers University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in theatre in 1982. At London’s Le Cordon Bleu school, he began an apprenticeship with chef Marco Pierre White after graduation. At La Volra in Borgo Capanne, Italy, Batali trained for three years under the guidance of Chef Massimo Bottura.
The Career of Mario Batali
As soon as Mario Batali debuted his New York City restaurant Pó in 1993, the Food Network tapped him for his show, “Molto Mario,” which ran from 1994 to 2004. Mario worked as a sous chef at the Four Seasons Clift Hotel and the Four Seasons Biltmore in San Francisco in his early twenties. He also worked at the Stars restaurant in San Francisco at the time.
After forming the Batali & Bastianich Hospitality Group with Joe and Lidia Bastianich in 1998, Babbo Ristorante e Enoteca went on to win numerous awards. That year, Mario also presented “Mediterranean Mario” on the Food Network and produced his first cookbook, “Mario Batali Simple Italian Food: Recipes from My Two Villages.”
When Mario Batali wrote “Mario Batali Holiday Food: Family Recipes for the Most Festive Time of the Year” in 2000, he began hosting “Mario Eats Italy,” which aired on the Food Network until 2002.
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In 2002, Mario wrote “The Babbo Cookbook” and contributed to “Vino Italiano: The Regional Wines of Italy.” He hosted the Food Network’s “Ciao America with Chef Mario Batali” in 2003 and appeared in “Pizza! The Movie” “Iron Chef America: Battle of the Masters” and “An Italian Christmas with Mario and Giada” in 2004.
While filming “Iconoclasts,” a documentary series about R.E.M.’s Michael Stipe, Mario Batali produced his cookbook “Molto Italiano: 327 Simple Italian Recipes to Cook at Home.” He released “Mario Tailgates NASCAR Style” in 2006 and followed it with 2008’s “Italian Grill” and “Spain…A Culinary Road Trip,” which was co-written with actress Gwyneth Paltrow.
Food Network documentary “Mario, FULL BOIL” (2007; Food Network) and PBS series “Spain… on the road again” (2008; PBS) were two of Mario Batali’s most recent projects.
Aside from voicing Mr. Rabbit in Fantastic Mr. Fox and appearing in the 2010 horror-thriller Bitter Feast, Mario also co-hosted ABC’s chat show “The Chew.”
Additionally, in 2016 he appeared as himself on “The Jim Gaffigan Show,” in 2011 and 2017, he provided his voice for “The Simpsons.” In 2010 he published “Molto Gusto: Easy Italian Cooking,” “Molto Batali: Simple Family Meals from My Home to Yours,” “America – Farm to Table: Simple, Delicious Recipes Celebrating Local Farmers,” and “Big American Cookbook: 250 Favorite Recipes from Across the United States” (2016).
Batali has opened over 20 restaurants, including Lupa Osteria Romana, Otto Enoteca Pizzeria, Carnevino, Esca, and Casa Mono.
Mario Batali’s Net Worth
At a net worth of $25 million, he is an American chef, restaurateur, writer, and television personality. At one point, Batali had a successful restaurant empire that included multiple publications, a range of food products, and numerous television and newspaper appearances.
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Mario and Joe Bastianich ran 16 restaurants across the United States and in Singapore and Hong Kong during the height of their success. In addition to countless other honors, he has won numerous James Beard Awards. Several alarming charges of sexual harassment forced Batali to quit his restaurant business in 2017.
He eventually sold his investment in the Batali and Bastianich Hospitality Group in March 2019.
Personal Life of Mario Batali
Mario married Susi Cahn, the daughter of Coach Inc.’s founders, Miles, and Lillian Cahn, in November 1994, two years after meeting her at a food event. Their sons, Benno and Leo, are also interested in this stuff. In 2013, they published “The Batali Brothers Cookbook.” Mario is very involved in charity work.
In 2008, he and Susi started the Mario Batali Foundation, which raises money for research on diseases that affect children and educational programs for kids. Batali was also an ambassador for the non-profit organization The Lunchbox Fund and a member of the board of directors, but he quit because of the sexual misconduct claims.
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In December 2017, eight women said that Batali had harassed or attacked them sexually. Mario was fired from “The Chew” three days after making the allegations public. Episodes of “Molto Mario” that were supposed to air on the Food Network in 2018 were canceled, and Target stopped selling Batali’s products.
In a May 2018 episode of “60 Minutes,” more claims were made. One woman said that Mario had sexually assaulted her at The Spotted Pig in 2005. Batali denied that he had hurt the woman, but he did say he was sorry for what he had done in the past. In 2019, he gave up control of Batali & Bastianich Hospitality Group and Eataly.
Awards and Achievements
The James Beard Foundation named Babbo Ristorante e Enoteca “Best New Restaurant of 1998.” Batali was also given the “Best Chef: New York City” award in 2002 and the “All-Clad Cookware Outstanding Chef Award” in 2005 by the James Beard Foundation.
In 2001, Mario was included in the D’Artagnan Cervena Who’s Who of Food & Beverage in America. In 2008, the James Beard Foundation named Batali and Bastianich “Best Restaurateur” for Babbo Ristorante e Enoteca, which also got a Michelin star that year.
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