Todd English is gonna kick Mario's shorts-and-plastic shoe-wearing ASS!

[Rabrrrrrr]

Silly Mario Batali, thinking he can compete against a chef who knows what he's doing.

It's on Iron Chef America on FOOD TV. 4-5 pm Eastern time.

[smirkymonkey]

1. Also, Todd English is hot!

I met him when he and his wife opened their very first Olive's in Charlestown, MA right on the corner of Monument Ave. I lived a few doors away and used to go there frequently - It was wonderful! I think that tiny little first restaurant was the best, and I have been a few times to the Boston & New York Olive's. It was so inspired back then. At his second Olive's in Boston, I was seated a booth away from John Kerry (facing each other) and every time I looked up, he was staring at me. I must admit, I thought he was frighteningly sexy.

[AllieB]

9. Todd & Olivia are divorced now

and honestly, his restaurants have suffered I think as a result. The original Olives is still very good. Two others that have opened here in the past three years-Bonfire and Kingfish Hall-are just OK.

[smirkymonkey]

14. I agree - She was very hands on in that first restaurant and it

was one of the best restaurants I had been to, even thought it was small and cozy and a bit off the radar. I think his latest ventures are totally overrated. I think his ego has gotten in the way of his cooking and has dulled his inspiration.

[smirkymonkey]

15. I agree - She was very hands on in that first restaurant and it

was one of the best restaurants I had been to, even thought it was small and cozy and a bit off the radar. I think his latest ventures are totally overrated. I think his ego has gotten in the way of his cooking and has dulled his inspiration.

[GOPisEvil]

2. I think Mario is an excellent chef.

I don't much care for IC America. It's just not for me.

[bettyellen]

3. he is a huge asshole in real life, a total drunken pig.

[GOPisEvil]

4. Hmmm...I did not know that.

I guess I won't be going to his place when I visit NYC. ;)

[bettyellen]

5. LOL

i'm deleting this because my friend could get in trouble, LOL.

[GOPisEvil]

6. Wow...the things one learns in the lounge.

Not sure about the trip timing - this no job thing is still new to me. Plus, I know I have some commitments early in '06.

[bettyellen]

8. well my revised mve in date is april, which means june or july

i guess. :shrug: at any rate they are starting work on it, supposedly tommorrow. i'll update you. be patient, we don't want you staying in a hotel, that's just silly.

[GOPisEvil]

10. Oh things might be completely different by then!

Maybe a birthday celebration in NYC which is June for me.

I will be out east at some point in early 06, in Philly most likely. I'll be there for a friend's cd release party.

[bettyellen]

11. hey, june might work out....

here's hoping!
have a great new year, david!
:toast:

[GOPisEvil]

12. Happy New Year!

I hope everything works out for both of us. :toast:

[smirkymonkey]

16. I saw him once in an Italian Grocery that I shop at on Bleecker

Street and got the impression that he was kind of a jerk, even though I didn't interact with him. Like most celebrity chefs, their egos outweigh their talent after a while.

I have been to a few of Mario's restaurants here in NYC and I am not very impressed (I grew up on Italian food cooked by my Grandmother and her family who were off the boat from Italy - it was the best food I have ever had! Everything was homemade - pasta, sausage, sauce, etc.)

[bigwillq]

7. I'll take Rachel Ray over those two

any ole day! :)

[dannofoot]

13. If you're in Boston...

...or gonna visit soon...English's Kingfish Hall restaurant is outstanding. One of the best meals I've ever enjoyed on the East Coast.