Mario was on Martha Stewart yesterday...

[Clove]

...and was talking about his minimized exposure on FTV.
He said that the network brass are taking the shows "more mainstream".
He talked about the fact that he is still going to be on Iron Chef and currently has the best record of any of the Iron Chefs (in both number of wins and percentage of battles won). He seemed to be pretty proud of that.
He also talked about the food show that he has done (with Gwyneth Paltrow ) for PBS in Spain and the likelihood of doing something for the Travel Channel.

I have noticed that FTV is still re-running Molto Mario. For how much longer, I can't guess. These shows production dates range from 1999 to 2003. FTV has a ton of them "in the can" but have rerun each one about x,xxx times

[Food Network Fan]

I am glad he will still do some Iron Chef shows. I would hate to see him gone completely. Maybe they will come up with another feature show for him later on.

[isilzha]

Glad to hear

[BerryBaby]

Wow, orange Croc shoes were popular in 1999? Did Mario start the Croc's fad?

[radiodugger]

One of my favorite chefs...I wonder...

If he will use anything he learned in his trip to Vietnam. He stated that it changed his life. I understand that, as the VERY first style of cooking I learned after I got out of the Army in 1975, was from a Vietnamese lady. She sold me her wok, and a box of spices/oils/sauces. Then she taught me how to make rice, and a couple of her recipes.

I'd LOVE to hear what Mario learned there. I can only imagine...

Radio Doug

[Clove]

One of my favorite chefs...I wonder...

If he will use anything he learned in his trip to Vietnam. He stated that it changed his life. I understand that, as the VERY first style of cooking I learned after I got out of the Army in 1975, was from a Vietnamese lady. She sold me her wok, and a box of spices/oils/sauces. Then she taught me how to make rice, and a couple of her recipes.

I'd LOVE to hear what Mario learned there. I can only imagine...

Radio Doug

Doug,

If FTV re-runs the "old" US Iron Chef shows, Mario did use many ideas, techniques, ingredients and dishes that he adapted from is trip to Vietnam, in some of his battles after he returned from there.

I haven't seen any of it on his restaurants' menus, but most of his places are ethnic-specific.

[Food Network Fan]

Food Notes: Changes On The Food Channel




Emeril Lagasse is in good company. He's not the only high-profile chef to be bounced from Food Network's lineup. The network canceled "Emeril Live," although previously taped new episodes will air into January and "Essence of Emeril" is still in the lineup.

Earlier this fall, Mario Batali felt the sharp edge of a cleaver, when the network didn't renew his shows such as "Molto Mario." Batali remains an Iron Chef, at least for now.

Last week, the croc-wearing chef visited Martha Stewart on her television show where he talked about his new project for public television.
MORE HERE

[Clove]

Wow, orange Croc shoes were popular in 1999? Did Mario start the Croc's fad?

Chefs have been wearing clogs for a long time.
They have been made out of rubber for a long time.
They are comfortable and work well in wet environs (like a kitchen)
Mario started wearing orange rubber clogs many years ago.
I don't know if he wears "Croc's®" now, but his orange clogs pre-date Croc's.

[Food Network Fan]

Yes his are Croc's he even has his own line. Seems like the Food Network personalities can get a contract to sell anything whether it's food related or not.

Crocs, Inc. Announces New Bistro Mario Batali Shoe

[BerryBaby]

Rubber shoes have been around a long time. My daughter wore those 'jelly' shoes when she was about 3 so that was 1983.

Don't think Mario's shoes were originally Croc's as that is a newer company. I know that is what he wears now.

I've tried rubber shoes and even with socks, they make my feet sweat. Plus, they really aren't my style.