Mario Batali

Since opening his first restaurant Pò in 1993, Batali excited the palates of discerning diners with his simple yet inventive take on authentic Italian cuisine. A recipient of the James Beard Foundation Award for "Outstanding Chef of the Year" (2005), Batali opened a string of successful restaurants in and outside of New York City, including his flagship Babbo Ristorante e Enoteca, a gastronomic favorite in Greenwich Village. Always eager to …