Mario Francesco Batali, born September 19, 1960, in Seattle, Washington, U.S., is an American celebrity chef, writer, and former restaurateur renowned for popularizing authentic Italian cuisine in the United States. After working in restaurant kitchens, he moved to the Italian village of Borgo Capanne in 1989 to apprentice at La Volta, mastering traditional techniques. He opened his first restaurant, Po, in New York City in 1993, followed by his flagship Babbo in 1998, which earned a Michelin star and was named Best New Restaurant by the James Beard Foundation. Batali co-owned multiple establishments including Del Posto, Lupa, and invested in The Spotted Pig, with locations primarily in New York City, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles. Batali achieved widespread fame as a television personality, hosting Food Network's Molto Mario from 1996 to 2004 and appearing as an Iron Chef on Iron Chef America. He co-hosted ABC's The Chew from 2011 to 2017. In December 2017, Eater published accounts from multiple women accusing Batali of sexual misconduct and harassment spanning years, leading to his immediate step-back from the restaurants and The Chew. No criminal charges resulted, but in March 2019, he sold his stakes in all restaurant holdings amid the fallout.