In My Opinion
With Sandra Pianin

When no other opinion matters.

Sandra Pianin is a freelance writer who lives in Queens, New York. Her work has appeared on many online sites with subjects from gardening to politics. In the past, she has been a reviewer for the High Definition Film Festival, the author of a Hollywood business column for www.matchflick.com and a web pundit for www.webpundit.net.

EDITORIAL OF THE WEEK

Mario Batali: A Chef for All Season(ing)s  
 

Chef and restauranteur Mario Batali started his food empire in New York City's Greenwich Village.  His tiny kitchen at Babbo was the place where everything began.  His holdings in TV shows, a wine shop, cookbooks, cookware includes seven restaurants. The mighty New York Times gave his newest restaurant Del Posto, a wonderful compliment by awarding it three stars. Pasta is still Mario Batali's favorite dish.  He prepares a sumptuous breakfast of pancakes, French toast, and eggs for his sons, Leo and Benno.  While a culinary wizard and business entrepreneur, Batali is still very much a New Yorker.  He says the best $10 meal in New York is a falafel from the restaurant Rainbow or pork buns from Momofuku. He often reads recipes by other cooks to find out how a food he loves tastes when another cook prepares a dish.  He feels the most important ingredient in a dish is olive oil.  He processes his own called La Mozza near his farm in Tuscany.  He offers a hint to cooks about getting the garlic smell off your hands.  He says wash them with real lemon juice or grab anything made of stainless steel! While passionate about foods like caviar and oysters, Mario Batali likes to talk about his dream car, a 1961 Impala.  He also owns a Vespa motorbike in classic green and he admits to loving it! Watch for Mario Batali's wonderful shows on the Food Channel.  You will love his common touch! ~*~Sandra Pianin ~*~

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