Unable to control his, uh...natural exuberance, celebrity chef/walking impulse control problem Mario Batali "dropped some royally naughty words" in front of King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia of Spain, according to AP reports. Batali was apparently annoyed when the crowd at a $1,000-a-plate dinner at the South Beach Wine & Food Festival wouldn't quiet down. He used the f-word once while quieting them, then used it again while introducing chef Jose Andres, of Los Angeles restaurant The Bazaar. He then proceeded to grab Andres' bottom. The queen is said to have "blanched."
While I'm the last one to think anyone should stand on ceremony for royalty (monarchies in the 21st century? C'mon now.), I still enjoy imagining the general horror rushing through the fancy-pants crowd as Batali blithely f-bombs and butt-grabs his way across the stage.
Chef Andres was apparently amused by the antics. ''This is what food and wine from Spain will do to you,'' he said.
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