Jeff Houck

The Tampa Tribune’s food writer since 2005, Jeff Houck covers the way people live through their food. He also hosts the Table Conversations food podcast and believes that everything crunchy is good.

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• December 2011

Mario Batali Is Coming To Town [Celebrity Chef To Demo Italian Food At Pepin Hospitality]

Posted Dec 7, 2011 by Jeff Houck

Updated Dec 7, 2011 at 04:14 PM

Just saw on the Publix Aprons Cooking School schedule that celebrity chef Mario Batal is scheduled to come to Tampa on Feb. 24 to throw around some olive oil and sign some copies of his latest cookbook, “Molto Batali,” at the Pepin Hospitality Center.

Tickets, which list for $95, go on sale Dec. 12.

Here’s the description of the event:

You’re invited to have your tastebuds tantalized by Mario Batali—a chef who believes that olive oil is as precious as gold, shorts are acceptable attire for every season, and food, like most things, is best when left to its own simple beauty.

Mario, together with his business partner Joe Bastianich, create magic night after night in his many twelve hotspots in New York City, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas. Their flagship restaurant is the award-winning Babbo Ristorante e Enoteca in Greenwich Village; however Mario is also the chef/owner of six other enormously successful restaurants in New York City. But his success isn’t limited to there. Along with a recent venture—a trattoria in Port Chester, New York— the duo has made several west coast ventures, including restaurants in Los Angeles and Las Vegas.

Mario is the recipient of many accolades, including those from GQ Magazine, the James Beard Foundation, and D’Artagnan Cervena Who’s Who of Food & Beverage in America. He’s authored Simple Italian Food; Mario Batali Holiday Food; The Babbo Cookbook; Molto Italiano: 327 Simple Italian Recipes; Mario Tailgates NASCAR Style; and Mario Batali: Italian Grilling. He also has a PBS series, Spain…On the Road Again, with co-stars Mark Bittman, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Spanish actress Claudia Bassols. The show follows the foursome’s adventures as they travel and eat their way through Spain.

This evening will include a buffet of Mario’s recipes, a book signing, and a cooking demonstration by Mario.

Does Mario need the coin? Unlikely, since he’s on ABC’s “The Chew,” is a Cooking Channel cornerstone and utilizes a hefty chunk of Manhattan real estate for culinary purposes.

My guess is that he’s using the event in part to raise money for his Mario Batali Foundation.