Mario Batali is a chef, restaurateur, television personality, and cookbook author. He has co-owned multiple restaurants across the United States. However, he is best known for his appearances in various Food Network series. Despite being a well-known celebrity chef, there are many facts about Mario Batali that people do not know. Here are some fun Mario Batali facts that you might find interesting.
Mario Batali Facts: His Personal Life
Where Was Mario Batali Born?
Mario Batali was born in Seattle, Washington, on 19 September 1960. Batali grew up in Seattle. He only left when he attended Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey. His mother is French-Canadian, while his father is of Italian descent. Batali has a brother, Dana.
Who Is Mario Batali’s Wife?
One of the Mario Batali facts that many people want to know is ‘Is Mario Batali married?’ Batali married Susi Cahn in 1994. His wife is the daughter of Miles and Lillian Cahn. His in-laws are the founders of the fashion business Coach Inc.
Does Mario Batali Have Children?
Mario Batali and his wife Susi Cahn have two sons together.
What Is Mario Batali’s Net Worth?
Batali’s career success means he is now a wealthy man. He ranks amongst the richest celebrity chefs in the world. Mario Batali’s net worth is $25 million, which he has made through his restaurants, television appearances, and cookbooks. He is wealthier than Guy Fieri. However, he is not as rich as celebrity chefs like Levi Roots, Thomas Keller, David Chang, Alan Wong, and Rachael Ray. He is also wealthier than Wolfgang Puck.
Facts About Mario Batali: His Culinary Career
He Received Some Training from Marco Pierre White
During his early career, Mario Batali underwent some training with Marco Pierre White, the first celebrity chef. White has also trained several other famous chefs, including Gordon Ramsay, Shannon Bennett, and Curtis Stone.
Batali Worked as a Sous Chef in Hotels
Mario Batali spent some time working as a sous chef at the Four Seasons Clift Hotel San Francisco. He then became a sous chef at the Four Seasons Biltmore in Santa Barbara when he was 29. Later, Batali also spent some time working with Jeremiah Tower at Stars in San Francisco.
Working in Italy Inspired His Cooking Style
Mario Batali is known for his innovative take on traditional Italian food. His cooking style is inspired by the time he spent working at a restaurant in Borgo Capanne, Italy. Apparently, it was during this time that he learned that Italian cooking is characterized by simplicity.
He Is in Partnership with Joe Bastianich
Batali formed the Batali & Bastianich Hospitality Group (B&B Hospitality Group) in 1998 with MasterChef judge, chef, and restaurateur Joe Bastianich and his wife, Lidia Bastianich. The company’s flagship restaurant is Babbo Ristorante e Enoteca. It is in New York City and the restaurant has a Michelin Star.
His Cookbooks
Batali Has Authored 10 Cookbooks
Between 1998 and 2011, Mario Batali has authored ten cookbooks. His first in 1998 was ‘Mario Batali Simple Italian Food: Recipes from My Two Villages.’ Batali’s most recent cookbook was ‘Mario Batali: Simple Family Meals from My Home to Yours.’
He Has Also Contributed to Several Publications
In addition to writing his own cookbooks, Mario Batali has contributed to several publications. For example, he co-wrote a book with Gwyneth Paltrow and Julia Turshen called ‘Spain… A Culinary Road Trip.’ He also contributed to a book about Italian wines and wrote the foreword for the 2003 publication ‘The Artist’s Palate.’ Furthermore, Mario Batali is the main subject of Bill Buford’s book, ‘Heat: An Amateur’s Adventures as Kitchen Slave, Line Cook, Pasta-Maker, and Apprentice to a Dante-Quoting Butcher in Tuscany.’
Mario Batali’s Television Career
He Starred in ‘Molto Mario’
Mario Batali first appeared on television in 1996 when he hosted ‘Molto Mario,’ which was one of the earliest cooking shows broadcast on the Food Network. The series was on air until 2004.
Batali Has Starred in Multiple Other Food Network Series
‘Molto Mario’ is not the only series that Mario Batali stars in on the Food Network. He has hosted many other series, including ‘Mediterranean Mario,’ ‘Mario Eats Italy,’ ‘Ciao America with Chef Mario Batalia,’ and also ‘Mario, FULL BOIL.’
He Has Competed in ‘Iron Chef America’
Mario Batali has appeared on ‘Iron Chef America’ on multiple occasions. Some of his competitors were Bobby Flay and Jamie Oliver. He has also appeared as a judge in the cooking competition.
Batali Has Co-Hosted a Food and Travel Series
Mario Batali has co-hosted a food and travel series called ‘Spain… on the Road Again’ on PBS. His co-hosts on the series were actress Gwyneth Paltrow, actress Claudia Bassols, and New York Times writer Mark Bittman.
He Has Had Acting Roles
In addition to his food series and guest appearances on television, Mario Batali has also had acting roles. In 2009, Batali provided the voice of Mr Rabbit in the stop motion animated film ‘Fantastic Mr Fox.’ He then played Gordon in the 2010 psychological horror film ‘Bitter Feast.’
He Co-Hosted ‘The Chew’
From 2011 to 2018, Mario Batali was the co-host of ‘The Chew.’ It was a cooking-themed talk show that was aired on ABC. Batali’s co-hosts on the series were Carla Hal, Michael Symon, Clinton Kelly, and Daphne Oz.
Controversies Involving Mario Batali
He Was in a Feud with Gordon Ramsay
There are some celebrity chefs that work well together and others that get into feuds. Mario Batali has had a long-term feud with British celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay. Batali once described Ramsay’s food as “outdated.” Ramsay then retaliated by childishly calling Batali “Fanta Pants.” It is a reference to the orange pants Batali wears. Mario Batali no longer allows Gordon Ramsay into his restaurants.
Mario Batali Has Faced Sexual Misconduct Allegations
In 2017, four women made allegations of sexual harassment and sexual misconduct against Mario Batali. Later, a further four women came forward with similar allegations. Initially, Batali stepped down from his management position at B&B. He was also suspended from The Chew.’ Also, Target withdrew products relating to Batali from sale. More women came forward the following year. It led to Batali surrendering his stake in B&B. Batali pleaded not guilty to the charges when it went to court in 2019.
He Was Accused of Tip Skimming
One of the Mario Batali facts that might surprise his fans is that he was accused of tip skimming. It led to a lawsuit against B&B Hospitality Group. The staff claimed that Batali’s company was skimming a percentage of the tips in their restaurants over several years. Batali’s company settled with 117 members of staff.
Other Mario Batali Facts
He Has Won Multiple Awards
Throughout his career, Mario Batali has won multiple awards. Some of these include two James Beard Foundation Awards and GQ’s Man of the Year in the chef category.
He Is Against Fracking
Mario Batali is a social activist. An area of particular interest is hydraulic fracturing, which is better known as fracking. He has campaigned against this method of extracting natural gas and has contributed to articles on the subject.
Batali Founded a Charitable Organization
Along with his wife Susi Cahn, Mario Batali founded the Mario Batali Foundation in 2008. The foundation aims to fund paediatric disease research. It also supports various children’s educational programs. In the past, Mario Batali also offered support to a charity that provides food to underprivileged children in South Africa.
He Loves Carnevino
In an interview with Bon Appetit, Mario Batali says that he loves Carnevino, which is a dry-age, bone-in ribeye steak. He also loves the concept of drive-thru burgers.
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