Raised in Seattle, Mario's initial career path had him studying the golden age of Spanish theater at Rutgers University. Soon after graduating he took his first bit of culinary training at Le Cordon Bleu in London, from which he withdrew almost immediately due to a "lack of interest." An apprenticeship with London's legendary chef Marco Pierre White and three years of intense culinary training in the Northern Italian village of Borgo Capanne, (population 200) gave him the essential skills and knowledge to return to his native US, anxious to plant his orange-clogged foot firmly in the behinds of the checkered tablecloth-Italian restaurant establishment.

Among his many accolades, Mario was named "Man of the Year" in the chef category by GQ Magazine in 1999. In 2002 he won the James Beard Foundation's "Best Chef: New York City" award and in 2005 the James Beard Foundation awarded Mario "Outstanding Chef of the Year". Mario is also one of the recipients of the 2001 D'Artagnan Cervena Who's Who of Food & Beverage in American, a prestigious lifetime achievement award. Mario Batali has created a thriving restaurant empire, and has established himself as a top restaurateur. Together with his partner Joe Bastianich he operates seven New York City hotspots, including Babbo Ristorante e Enoteca and Del Posto, two wildly successful restaurants that have each been awarded three stars by Frank Bruni of the New York Times. In 2006 Batali and Bastianich will be taking on Las Vegas opening at the Venetian Hotel and joining forces with Nancy Silverton to open Pizzeria Mozza and Osteria Mozza in Los Angeles.

Mario has authored 5 cookbooks including Simple Italian Food (Clarkson Potter 1998); Mario Batali Holiday Food (Clarkson Potter 2000); The Babbo Cookbook (Clarkson Potter 2002) and Molto Italiano — 327 Simple Classic Italian Recipes to Cook at Home (Ecco 2005), recipient of the prestigious 2006 James Beard Award for International Cookbook. In his latest cookbook Mario teams up with NASCAR to create the first ever tailgating bible for NASCAR fans. Mario Tailgates NASCAR Style (Sporting News 2006) includes regional and classical recipes, all written with Mario's usual wit and candor. Mario splits his time between New York City's Greenwich Village and northern Michigan with his wife Susi Cahn of Coach Dairy Goat Farm, and their two sons.