Batali Boomerang
Hello, Friend!
Don’t forget to set your clocks back one hour today. Walks with the dog will happen before dinner now. No sense walking in the dark afterward. Yesterday was a perfect Fall day - warm and dry. I was able to schlep a whole bunch of leaves out to the road. Not my last round of leaf collection, but probably the biggest of the season. The canopy of the trees in my yard has thinned out quite a bit. It feels nice to have the yard tidied up, without having to wear extra layers and endure freezing temps while working. I’m sure those low temps are coming, just not yet. Something for which to be thankful.
A couple of weeks ago, while mindlessly scrolling Instagram, a post from chef Mario Batali’s account hit my feed. It was a picture of rigatoni in sauce, accompanied by the following text: “Mario Batali Virtual Events Coming soon…" I wasn’t sure what to do with this. Batali’s last post was Halloween, 2017 - two months before allegations of sexual harassment and sexual assault were levied against him in the press, and eventually criminal charges of indecent assault and battery were filed in Boston. A few more posts, teasing different dishes, have steadily dripped out from his Instagram account these last few days.
Batali was acquitted of the criminal charges in Boston, and his former restaurant company paid a $600,000 settlement to 20 former employees as a result of a civil investigation led by the Attorney General of the State of New York. It seems reasonable to say that Batali has been a “bad guy,” however one might define that term. Perhaps he got off easy, but he was forced out of the restaurant industry, and into hiding from the public eye for the past six years. Now he wants to come back, in some capacity.
I’m wondering how I feel about it. And in a larger sense, when should society allow those of us who have strayed to return? Batali was forced to sell all of his business interests to his former partner, primarily. It is fair to guess that he doesn’t need to work anymore. Now 63 years of age, should we just put him out to pasture? Sitting at age 54 myself, this idea bothers me. I don’t like the idea that I may be 8+ years away from floating adrift on an iceberg somewhere.
I have to think we all have contributions to make to society. We’re all here for such a short time, every day we’re not contributing to the greater good feels wasteful. People released from prison typically do not have the resources that Batali likely commands. As such, they have to find a way to re-integrate. Sadly, I believe there is a fairly high rate of recidivism, resulting in a return to their more familiar prison environs.
How much of a penalty is “enough” for Batali? I’m sure there will never be unanimous agreement on this. Given that, perhaps now is an acceptable time to try something, and see how the world receives it. Besides owning one of his cookbooks and seeing him on television in the past, my only other interaction with a Batali business was a wonderful lunch in early April, 2012 at Otto Pizzeria Enoteca in New York City - one of many great experiences during Spring Break, while we were hosting our dear friend Fanny from Finland for the school year. Fanny is thriving in Helsinki today. Otto closed during COVID. I won’t be taking virtual cooking classes from Mario, though. I already know how to cook reasonably well, and have no shortage of free learning options in this realm.
So, welcome back, Mario…I suppose. Helping people to cook and enjoy food is something I can’t really object to.
Sunday Supper
All this Batali talk has me thinking of Italian food. So top your favorite pasta with Michael Symon’s Yia Yia’s Sunday Sauce, and Mario’s Sicilian Meatballs. Here is a simple Roman Mixed-Green Salad if you feel compelled to have some vegetables.
Sunday Music
This Sunday I share with you a couple of wonderful performances by Rufus Wainwright - the first is a 30-minute show performed in his home during COVID, and the next is a recently-released duet of Cigarettes & Chocolate Milk, with the dazzling Rachel Price from Lake Street Dive. Enjoy!
Have a great week ahead! Offer support to others. Make good use of this day. And let me know how I can help.
Peace & Love,
Neal