Lifestyle
Mario Batali Keeps it Simple With “Molto Batali” Cookbook
Mario Batali is a culinary Renaissance man. From operating close to 20 restaurants internationally, to hosting the daily talk show, “The Chew,” to scouring the globe for new locations for his mega-shop Eataly, it’s a wonder he ever has time to sit down and write a book — let alone nine of them. His most recent cooking tome, “Molto Batali,” explores the sort of meals Batali eats with his family, with an emphasis on fresh, seasonal ingredients.
On Thursday, December 1, Mario Batali will hold a public book signing at Neiman Marcus in Short Hills, New Jersey.
The Short Hills store is also supporting The Mario Batali Foundation for children’s wellbeing with a private event beforehand. But first, Batali takes a moment to talk tomatoes, television and what’s ahead. (China?!)
NMdaily: What is the inspiration behind your new book, “Molto Batali?”
Mario Batali: Molto Batali is inspired by the meals that I eat with my family. They are recipes formatted for large family summer and holiday meals, but all of the recipes can easily be halved or quartered for any given weekday.
NM: What is the most important lesson in cooking that your readers could learn from this book?
MB: Cook simple and cook seasonal. You could make a fresh tomato dish in January, but it won’t be nearly as delicious as it would be when the tomatoes are fresh and ripe and flavorful in late August.
NM: How does this book differ from your others?
MB: This is the first book I’ve tied to my foundation. The Mario Batali Foundation was created to counter the obstacles children face in achieving greatness: hunger, illiteracy, and disease. There’s a little burst on the cover that indicated if you choose to donate to the foundation, I’ll match it up to $100,000. It’s an easy way to get involved.
NM: The Chew is obviously a new medium for you. How would you describe the experience of having a talk show?
MB: We do a lot of cooking, so I’m not far out of my element. Filming everyday has been a blast and I love all of my cohosts.
NM: How does it differ from anything you’ve ever done, or the past shows you’ve done?
MB: Network television is a whole ‘nother beast. The Food Network shows I’ve done had production staffs of maybe 50 or fewer. The Chew has a staff of 200.
NM: What projects are you currently working on?
MB: We’re scouting locations all over the country for another Eataly: Los Angeles, Washington D.C., Mexico City. And I’m working more and more on the Mario Batali Foundation and we are looking to develop our take on casual Italian dining in China.
Mario Batali’s public book signing will be at Neiman Marcus in Short Hills, December 1, on Level 2, at 6-7 pm.
