Mario Batali facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Mario Batali

Mario Batali in 2005
Born	Mario Francesco Batali (1960-09-19) September 19, 1960 (age 64) Seattle, Washington, U.S.
Cooking style	Italian
Education	Rutgers University Le Cordon Bleu
Spouse	Susi Cahn ​ (m. 1994)​
Current restaurant(s) Italian Wine Merchant (shop)
Previous restaurant(s) The Spotted Pig (investor) Babbo (restaurant) Lupa Osteria Romana Esca Otto Enoteca Pizzeria Casa Mono Bar Jamon Del Posto Enoteca San Marco (renamed Otto) B&B Ristorant Carnevino, (last three located in Las Vegas; all others are located in New York City) Tarry Lodge Eataly
Television show(s) Molto Mario Ciao America with Mario Batali Iron Chef America Mario, Full Boil The Chew "Moltissimo" Mario Eats Italy

Mario Francesco Batali (born September 19, 1960) is a well-known American chef, writer, and former owner of many restaurants. He owned restaurants in big cities like New York City, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles. One of his most famous restaurants was Babbo in New York City. It even earned a special award called a Michelin star for several years.

Mario Batali also became famous from appearing on the Food Network. You might have seen him on shows like Molto Mario and Iron Chef America. On Iron Chef America, he was one of the main "Iron Chefs." In 2017, some issues came up, and by March 2019, he decided to sell all his restaurant businesses.

Mario Batali: A Famous Chef

Mario Batali is a celebrated chef known for his delicious Italian food. He has shared his love for cooking through many TV shows and cookbooks. His career shows how passion and hard work can lead to great success in the culinary world.

Early Life and Family

Mario Batali was born in Seattle on September 19, 1960. His mother was Marilyn and his father was Armandino Batali. His father later started a restaurant called Salumi in Seattle. Mario's family background includes Italian and French-Canadian roots.

He went to Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey. While studying there, he also worked as a cook at a local pub and restaurant. In 1994, Mario married Susi Cahn. They have two sons together. Susi's parents, Miles and Lillian Cahn, were the founders of the famous company Coach Inc. Mario's brother, Dana Batali, worked at Pixar, helping with their animation technology.

Becoming a Chef

Mario Batali started his professional cooking journey as a sous chef. This is a chef who works directly under the head chef. He worked at fancy hotels like the Four Seasons Biltmore in Santa Barbara. He also learned from famous chefs like Jeremiah Tower at his restaurant, Stars, in San Francisco. Stars was a very important restaurant that helped create the idea of a "celebrity chef."

In 1996, Mario Batali got his own show on the Food Network called Molto Mario. The show ran until 2004 and made him a household name. It also helped make the Food Network very popular.

Building a Restaurant Empire

In 1998, Mario Batali teamed up with Joe Bastianich and Lidia Bastianich. They formed a company called B&B Hospitality Group. Their main restaurant was Babbo in New York City. Babbo was very successful and earned a Michelin star, which is a big honor in the restaurant world.

From 2011 to 2017, Mario was also a co-host on the ABC daytime talk show The Chew. This show focused on food and cooking.

Giving Back: Philanthropy

Mario Batali has used his fame to support many good causes. He is a strong supporter of protecting the environment. He has spoken out against hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking. This is a method used to get natural gas from the ground. He believes it can harm the environment and food sources.

He also served on the board of directors for The Lunchbox Fund. This organization helps provide daily meals to students in schools in Soweto, South Africa.

In 2008, Mario and his wife Susi started the Mario Batali Foundation. This foundation helps fund educational programs for children. It also supports research into diseases that affect children. He also supports Transcendental Meditation through the David Lynch Foundation.

Cooking Style

Mario Batali is known for his simple approach to Italian cooking. He once said that good Italian food is all about keeping things simple. He learned this important lesson while working at a restaurant in Borgo Capanne, Italy. His cooking often focuses on fresh, high-quality ingredients.

TV Shows and Books

Mario Batali has been on many TV shows and has written several cookbooks. His shows often take viewers on culinary tours. He explores different regions of Italy or even Italian-American culture.

His Cookbooks

Mario Batali has written many cookbooks, sharing his recipes with people around the world. Some of his popular books include:

• Mario Batali Simple Italian Food: Recipes from My Two Villages (1998)
• Molto Italiano: 327 Simple Italian Recipes to Cook at Home (2005)
• Spain...A Culinary Road Trip (2008), written with Gwyneth Paltrow
• Molto Batali: Simple Family Meals from My Home to Yours (2011)

Awards and Recognition

Mario Batali has received many awards for his cooking and restaurants.

• 1998 – "Best New Restaurant of 1998" from the James Beard Foundation for Babbo Ristorante e Enoteca.
• 1999 – "Man of the Year" in GQ's chef category.
• 2002 – "Best Chef: New York City" from the James Beard Foundation.
• 2004 – Three Stars from The New York Times for Babbo Ristorante e Enoteca.
• 2005 – "All-Clad Cookware Outstanding Chef Award" from the James Beard Foundation (a national award).
• 2008 – One Michelin star for Babbo Ristorante e Enoteca from the Michelin Guide.
• 2008 – "Best Restaurateur" for Joe Bastianich/Mario Batali from the James Beard Foundation.
• He was also inducted into the Culinary Hall of Fame.