Mario Batali Biography

Fast Facts

• Resides on the board of directors for the non-profit organization The Lunchbox Fund, which aims to provide daily meals to students in South Africa
• Created the Mario Batali Foundation to help educate and empower children about food and nutrition
• After studying Spanish Language, Theatre and Economics at Rutgers, Batali briefly attended Le Cordon Bleu in London, but ultimately opted out of cooking to apprentice with the acclaimed chef Marco Pierre White
• Known for his expertise and enthusiasm for Italian cuisine
• Has opened seven restaurants with business partner Joseph Bastianich
• Won a Michelin star for his New York City restaurant Babbo