Mario Batali (born September 9, 1960) is an American chef, writer, restaurateur and media personality. Batali was born in Yakima, Washington of Italian, English, and French Canadian ancestry. He moved to Spain with his family in 1975 and returned to the U.S. in 1978 to attend Rutgers University.
There, he double majored in Spanish Language Theatre and Economics, graduating in 1982. He later went to attend Le Cordon Bleu, though he left as he found the pace too slow and because he considers the best way to learn is in a professional kitchen. Mario currently lives in New York City with his wife Susi Cahn (daughter of Miles and Lillian Cahn, founders of Coach Farms) and two sons, Leo and Benno.
He also owns homes in Northport, Michigan and Red Hook, New York. His father is Armandino Batali, owner of Salumi in Seattle. Batali is one of the principal subjects of Bill Buford's 2006 book, Heat.