Awards & Recognition
★James Beard Foundation Outstanding Chef Award (2005)
★James Beard Foundation Best Chef: New York City (2002)
★James Beard Foundation Outstanding Restaurateur with Joe Bastianich (2008)
★James Beard Foundation Best New Restaurant for Babbo (1998)
★Michelin star for Babbo Ristorante e Enoteca (multiple years)
★Michelin star for Del Posto
★Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Informative Talk Show (The Chew)
★GQ Magazine Man of the Year in chef category (1999)
Notable Facts
→Co-founded B&B Hospitality Group in 1998 with Joe and Lidia Bastianich
→Former Iron Chef America featured chef and host of Food Network's Molto Mario
→Co-hosted ABC's The Chew from 2011-2017
→Owned over 26 restaurants at peak including flagship Babbo in NYC
→Published 10 cookbooks including James Beard Award-winning Molto Italiano
→Sold all restaurant holdings in 2019 following sexual misconduct allegations
→Acquitted of criminal charges in Boston in 2022
→Currently involved in food insecurity initiatives in Traverse City, Michigan