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| Mario Batali. Photo: Bauer-Griffin. |
"It's going to be settled," Bastianich told the New York Daily News on Wednesday. "We've returned the space back to the landlord, and the rent is going to be paid today or tomorrow."
The pair were guarantors of the failed restaurant, the Daily News reports.
The restaurant, located in Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood, opened nine months ago with April Bloomfield of the Spotted Pig serving as executive chef.
It was immediately well-received by the food community -- Frank Bruni gave the restaurant two stars in his New York Times review. However, the seafood house closed without warning on Aug. 29.
Batali is known as the orange-Croc-wearing, Gwyneth Paltrow-loving, former Food Network star, having hosted his own cooking show, "Molto Mario," and served as one of the permanent chefs on "Iron Chef America."
The chef owns eight acclaimed restaurants in New York City, including Babbo and the two-Michelin-star, Del Posto.
[Via New York Daily News]
Mario Batali
Chef Mario Batali is seen riding his Vespa on Oct. 14, 2008, in New York City.
Arnaldo Magnani/Getty Images
Chef Mario Batali attends the Food Bank for New York City's Sixth Annual Can-Do Awards at Abigail Kirsch's Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers on April 21, 2009 in New York City.
Jamie McCarthy/WireImage for BWR
Chef Mario Batali, center, plates a pasta dish in the kitchen of Del Posto, his Italian restaurant in New York, in this Feb. 8, 2006, file photo. Despite a dispute with its old landlord that led to threats of eviction and a costly legal battle, the restaurant, owned by celebrity chefs Batali and Lidia Bastianich, will remain open. The building has a new owner, and with the purchase, Joseph Bastianich, Lidia's restaurateur son, said on June, 12, 2007, that the litigation was terminated.
Tina Fineberg/AP
Mario Batali sighting on March 11, 2009, in New York City.
Christopher Peterson/BuzzFoto/FilmMagic
Chef Mario Batali and Susi Cahn attend the launch of 'Spain ... On The Road Again' at the Queen Sofia Spanish Institute on Sept. 21, 2008, in New York City.
Ray Tamarra/Getty Images
Celebrity chef Mario Batali helps celebrate the opening of the new Uncle Ben's Kids Cafe in Carson, Calif., by conducting a cooking demonstration for the children on May 28, 2008. The opening of the Kids Cafe is part of a multi-year partnership with Uncle Ben's and the Kids Cafe program of America's Second Harvest - The Nation's Food Bank Network. Last year Uncle Ben's announced a $1 million donation to open Kids Cafe locations in communities in which Mars, Inc., does business with a purpose of providing free meals and snacks to low-income children.
Chris Polk/FilmMagic
Chef Mario Batali poses for photographers during red carpet arrivals at the premiere of the film 'Infamous' in New York on Oct. 9, 2006. Directed by Douglas McGrath, 'Infamous' is a film about Truman Capote.
Stuart Ramson/AP
Chef Mario Batali attends preparations for a Thanksgiving feast at Covenant House New York on Nov. 25, 2008, in New York City.
Neilson Barnard/Getty Images
Mario Batali attends the Tiger Woods Block Party .
Lester Cohen/WireImage
Mario Batali attends the 2008 Brooklyn Academy Of Music Spring Gala at The BAM Howard Gilman Opera House on April 9, 2008, in Brooklyn, N.Y.
Jason Kempin/WireImage
9-12-2009 @6:16AM Edd said... This area is for comments not ADVERTISING
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9-12-2009 @6:35AM Sheryl said... Gee Wendy, this is the exact same blog B.S. that's listed on Walletpop as "Barbara". Nice scam, you really expect people who are intelligent to be gullible enough to fall for this stuff? Honestly don't believe that there is a real person behind most of this stuff, just a scam artist that seems to think people who are down are also desperate and stupid enough to believe. WAKE UP
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9-12-2009 @9:27AM Dadzz said... Mario and Bastianich were Guarantors on the note. Once the landlord determined that collecting the debt from the Primary signer wasn't feasible, Batali and his business partner stepped up to the 'plate' and paid the rent current.
I grow tired of the ever-growing trend of using sensationalistic, misleading headlines to 'sell' an article to the public. Exploiting Mario's celebrity status and implying that HE is a deadbeat failing to pay rent on his failed eatery is irresponsible journalism in my opinion.
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9-12-2009 @3:44PM eatinBadClams said... restaurant business is a sure fire failed way to invest money and will be for many years to come .
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9-12-2009 @7:41AM jimbo chili said... restaurant business = sure way to throw good money for bad , but this guy - NO worries - big fat ass got more outs than a world series .
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9-12-2009 @1:30PM friedmanatbd said... wish it was bobby flay- he seems likke such an arrogant pri-k- and he is not even a chef like Mario- he is a glorified Denny's cook- bacon, tamales and hot peppers regardless of mystery ingredient
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9-12-2009 @10:37AM Angiebaby said... He needs to lose some weight. I don't discriminate or put people down for the way they look, but he looks unhealthy and he has so much to offer the culinary world, and if he gets healthy, he'll be around longer.
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9-12-2009 @2:21PM kickbk00 said... I'm sure he is well aware of this.
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9-12-2009 @11:56AM John J Foote said... On Point
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9-12-2009 @11:28AM Debi said... I lvoe Mario! and I live by the words..NEVER TRUST A SKINNY CHEF!!
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9-12-2009 @11:38AM ta said... Just another over hyped line cook!! These cooks are all the same, so damn high on themselves.
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9-12-2009 @11:43AM winedineny said... Mario is all sizzle and NO steak
He is a mediocre cook who found fame through the press
If not for his wifes family money ( coach leather & Coach goat cheese !!) he would be a manager at best.
Re Joe Bastianich, he is a dull non entity with a minimal knowledge of wine, BUT an absolutely GREAT and talented mom, Lidia Bastianich - she is a great chef, person and is totally self made...what a woman>
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9-12-2009 @2:06PM Rich said... Why! Just give me a real reason why you would attempt to put Mario Batali in a bad light and make him appear to be in financial trouble. Is the need to sell BS pop-up ads so compelling that AOL must make attempt to tarnish the image of an affiable talnt such as Mario Batali????
Restaurants that have been in business for 25+ years are having a tough go at it. $75,000 loss to a landlord in NYC is a drop in the bucket. Everyone has a loss now and then and obvioulsy Mario has one too. If every well known person who made a bad investment choice got such coverage, there would not be room to write about the war, the economy or the healthcare changes. Why can we not emphasize the positive, not the negative. Everyone has a problem, it does not necessarily mean that it is newsworthy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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9-12-2009 @1:36PM joe said... I agree with your comment 100%! I Met this guy at a food store, and when I asked him if he was that chef on tv, His response was yeh thats me. No personality what so ever! he had a really bad attidue! frankly who cares!! I will give you a quarter to call someone who does! Deadbeat line cook!
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9-12-2009 @12:38PM Frank said... Could not disagree more with Winedineny's comment about Mario Batali. From his first place, Po, I've always found his food excellent and especially enjoy Lupa Trattoria Romana and Del Posto. Can you bee more spcific, what is it you don't like about his food, or do you not care for Italian food in general? Can't offer any opinion on Joe Bastianich, but totally agree with your opinion of his mother. She's wonderful.
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9-12-2009 @1:43PM joyce said... Mario is an excellent cook and knows his food and where it originates from. He can also cook up one side of Italy to the other side and other places. These people that think he's a mediocre cook obviously knows nothing about him or cooking. They're idiots not to mention the journalists exposing his debt to a landlord. Many well known people owe overdue rent somewhere but most pay up. It could've been an oversight or simply waiting for the revenue's or bank transfers. Whatever the case, journalists, go after the scam artists of the world. There, put that in your keyboard!!
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9-13-2009 @1:35AM Elaine said... He needs to clean up a little....Shave, haircut and a shower before I would want to eat anything from his kitchen...He looks so scroungy all of the time.
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9-12-2009 @1:04PM Angela Pitt said... When did becoming chef stop being all about the food?
Now, it's about making money and lots of it. In this
case, that idea has come back to bite Mario and his
partner in the . . . well, you get the picture.
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