Former TV chef Mario Batali returned to the small screen this weekend, hosting a cooking webinar titled Molto a Casa from his new home in rural Michigan.
Batali, 67, has been largely absent from mainstream media since he was first accused of sexual misconduct in 2017, something he has vehemently denied and for which he has never been prosecuted.
The Seattle native used some of his on-screen time to rail against his former home, the Big Apple. The entire session will cost subscribers $50.
A viewer asked if Batali would ever do live cooking demonstrations at Eataly, the gourmet Italian market he once owned, and he replied, “Me and New York, we broke up. Finished.'
“It was a great city, it worked for me the longest, but now I live in Northern Michigan, in a small town of 600, with a community of amazing, like-minded creatives,” he continued.
“There are a lot of great people. I like most of them. But there are enough things about New York City that I'm done with that city. And I wish everyone the best there,” Batali continued.
Former TV chef Mario Batali pictured during his online cooking class Molto e Casa, revealing he won't be returning to New York City anytime soon
Batali is charged with assault and battery in Boston Municipal Court in 2019 in connection with an incident at a Boston restaurant. He was acquitted in 2022
The chef didn't seem to harbor any ill will toward the folks at Eataly, which has two locations in Manhattan, and even recommended a viewer go there to get some good pork belly.
Another tip from Batali was to tell his viewers to try to make friends with butchers, fishmongers and anyone selling fresh produce.
'Above all, smile. Smile at people. Smile at everyone and be friendly.”
Batali went on to say that his son Leo now lives in his former mansion in the city where his famous wine cellar is located.
However, Batali told his fans that he is now sober.
He also said he is planning more online cooking classes. 'If everyone thinks this is a pretty good idea, we will continue with this for a long time.'
Batali likened the online class to a reincarnation of his wildly popular Food Network show, Molto Mario, which aired from 1996 to 2010.
None of the assembled viewers asked Batali about the various legal issues he has faced in recent years.
In August 2022, Batali agreed to settle two lawsuits in Massachusetts accusing the celebrity chef of sexual assault.
That came three months after Batali was acquitted of a criminal charge stemming from allegations by one of the women, who prosecutors allege aggressively kissed and groped her while she took a selfie at a downtown Boston bar in 2017.
The women alleged that Batali sexually assaulted them on several occasions. The allegations from one of the women led to the only criminal case against the prominent chef and restauranteur at the height of the #MeToo movement.
Batali tasted coffee at Eataly in 2010, this weekend he said he would no longer do cooking demonstrations at the Italian gourmet store
A woman testified in May 2022 that at the time she felt confused and powerless to do anything to stop Batali.
But Batali was acquitted of assault and battery after a Boston judge agreed with Batali's lawyers that the accuser had credibility issues and that photos suggested the encounter was amicable.
Batali's lawyers portrayed the accuser as a liar who was financially motivated because of her civil lawsuit filed against the chief in 2018.
If convicted, Batali could have faced up to 30 months in prison and had to register as a sex offender.
The other woman — who sued Batali in 2019 — similarly alleged that Batali groped and kissed her at a restaurant in Boston's Chinatown neighborhood in 2016.
Batali stepped down from day-to-day operations at his restaurant empire and left the now-canceled ABC cooking show “The Chew” after the sexual misconduct allegations came to light.
Last year, Batali, his business partner and their restaurant company agreed to pay $600,000 to resolve a four-year investigation by the New York Attorney General's office into allegations that Batali and other staff sexually harassed employees.
This payment was made without any admission of guilt.