# Now, Mario Batali **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 11, 2017, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-mario-batali/804196 "2017-12-11T14:43:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2017, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-mario-batali/804196/1 "2017-12-11T14:43:12Z")
[Surprise to no-one](http://variety.com/2017/tv/news/mario-batali-the-chew-out-sexual-harassment-1202635704/). ETA: Ugh… _Mario_ ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2017, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-mario-batali/804196/2 "2017-12-11T15:24:41Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > [Surprise to no-one](http://variety.com/2017/tv/news/mario-batali-the-chew-out-sexual-harassment-1202635704/). > > ETA: Ugh… _Mario_ Why wouldn’t that be surprising? ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2017, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-mario-batali/804196/3 "2017-12-11T15:29:10Z")
He’s always struck me as an overgrown frat boy. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2017, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-mario-batali/804196/4 "2017-12-11T15:33:45Z")
It’s surprising to me, but only because I have no idea who this guy is. Are we all supposed to know? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2017, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-mario-batali/804196/5 "2017-12-11T15:34:35Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > He’s always struck me as an overgrown frat boy. No self-respecting frat boy would wear orange Crocs. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2017, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-mario-batali/804196/6 "2017-12-11T15:36:46Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > [Surprise to no-one](http://variety.com/2017/tv/news/mario-batali-the-chew-out-sexual-harassment-1202635704/). NM. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2017, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-mario-batali/804196/7 "2017-12-11T15:36:48Z")
I’ve heard that if you jammed a spigot into his navel, pure extra virgin olive oil will pour out. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2017, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-mario-batali/804196/8 "2017-12-11T15:44:26Z")
From the title, I assumed gender reassignment. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2017, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-mario-batali/804196/9 "2017-12-11T15:51:10Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > It’s surprising to me, but only because I have no idea who this guy is. Are we all supposed to know? Celebrity chef. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2017, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-mario-batali/804196/10 "2017-12-11T16:28:24Z")
His last time in the news was when he [compared bankers to Hitler & Stalin, leading to a boycott of his high end NYC restaurants by bankers and their expense accounts](http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/10/nyregion/bankers-boycott-chef-mario-batali-after-hitler-and-stalin-remarks.html). ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2017, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-mario-batali/804196/11 "2017-12-11T16:43:03Z")
I’d hate to be in his shoes today, but that’s always been true. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2017, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-mario-batali/804196/12 "2017-12-11T16:53:22Z")
Well, I, for one, am shocked! shocked, I tell you! ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2017, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-mario-batali/804196/13 "2017-12-11T17:53:28Z")
[Moderating] Fixed typo in title. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2017, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-mario-batali/804196/14 "2017-12-11T19:05:02Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > I’d hate to be in his shoes today, but that’s always been true. Not a fan of orange Crocs? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2017, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-mario-batali/804196/15 "2017-12-11T19:08:15Z")
> [@gigi](#): > > Not a fan of orange Crocs? [Nope.](https://kuwaitiful.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/orange-alligator-crocodile.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2017, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-mario-batali/804196/16 "2017-12-11T20:34:22Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > [Moderating] > Fixed typo in title. T/Y ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2017, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-mario-batali/804196/17 "2017-12-11T23:13:02Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > I’d hate to be in his shoes today, but that’s always been true. > [@gigi](#): > > Not a fan of orange Crocs? The punchline was already in place. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2017, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-mario-batali/804196/18 "2017-12-11T23:21:20Z")
(pummels own head with fists and screams out in agony) “BATALI!!!” Sorry, hadda get that commercial parody out of my system first. Not much to say really, but I agree with him about the bankers…for the most part. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2017, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-mario-batali/804196/19 "2017-12-11T23:29:07Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > The punchline was already in place. Well excuuuuse me. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2017, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-mario-batali/804196/20 "2017-12-11T23:33:58Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > It’s surprising to me, but only because I have no idea who this guy is. Are we all supposed to know? > [@Sunny\_Daze](#): > > Celebrity chef. He’s in fact one of those celebrity chefs other celebrity chefs tend to fawn over - hugely admired. I actually have a Batali-branded dutch oven my folks gave me as a Christmas present. Nicely solid piece of cooking-ware I have no intention of discarding ;). I’m very mildly surprised at this one, but hardly shocked. It’s a stereotype that successful head chefs of a certain generation tend to be ego-driven to a ridiculous degree, but one that seems to have a real kernel of truth. Just as with successful politicians and entertainers they tend to have a lot of authority in their own little spheres of influence and some of them are bound to abuse it. The ONLY thing that might prevent a flood of similar complaints to start spilling out of the restaurant-sphere would be the still somewhat limited pentration of women into that kinda macho world. But still I’d suspect this is just the tip of the iceberg. Makes me idly wonder if Anne Burrell is one of the complainants. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-mario-batali/804196.md?page=2)