Joseph Bastianich
Encyclopedia
Joseph "Joe" Bastianich is a restaurateur and vineyard owner. He is also a judge on the competitive cooking shows, MasterChef and MasterChef Italy.
, Joseph Bastianich was born in Astoria, Queens, four years before his parents purchased their first restaurant, the tiny Buonavia, in Forest Hills, Queens. He was eleven years old when they purchased their second restaurant, Villa Seconda, also in Queens, and thirteen when his parents sold the two Queens restaurants and launched their flagship restaurant, Felidia (a contraction of their two first names), on the East Side of Manhattan near the 59th Street Bridge. Joseph attended Fordham Preparatory School
in the Bronx that allowed him to skip the eighth grade.
Joseph received his B.A. from Boston College
, After college, he took a job working as a bond trader at Merrill Lynch on Wall Street, but soon after abandoned that career route to join the family's restaurant business.
In 1997, Felice and Lidia Bastianich, divorced after 31 years of marriage. His father resigned from the business and transferred his share in the partnership to their two children, Joseph and Tanya. The following year, Joe teamed up with chef Mario Batali
to open Babbo Ristorante e Enoteca. The restaurant earned three stars from The New York Times
. Continuing the partnership, the pair opened seven more restaurants in New York City: Lupa, Esca, Casa Mono, Bar Jamón, Otto, Del Posto, and most recently (2010), Eataly. In Los Angeles
, Bastianich and Batali opened Osteria Mozza and Pizzeria Mozza (which were later copied at the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore), and in Las Vegas
, B&B Ristorante, Enoteca San Marco, and Carnevino. Closer to home, the duo revived the old Tarry Lodge in Port Chester, New York
.
; La Mozza s.r.l. in Maremma
, Tuscany
; and in Tritono Mendoza, Argentina
. He recently acquired the Brandini Estate in La Morra
, Piedmont
, Italy
.
. In 2005, he was recognized as "Outstanding Wine and Spirits Professional" by both the James Beard Foundation
and Bon Appétit
magazine. In 2008, he and Batali were awarded the James Beard Foundation’s Outstanding Restaurateur Award.
Bastianich is currently a judge on the American version of the television series MasterChef along with Gordon Ramsay
and Graham Elliot
. In 2011, he is also judge of Italian version of MasterChef.
, with his wife and three children, Olivia, Miles, and Ethan.
Bastianich, who was overweight and suffering from several health issues, began running and eventually lost 45 pounds. He has also participated in several marathons.
Early life and education
The son of Felice and Lidia BastianichLidia Bastianich
Lidia Matticchio Bastianich is an American chef, author, and restaurateur....
, Joseph Bastianich was born in Astoria, Queens, four years before his parents purchased their first restaurant, the tiny Buonavia, in Forest Hills, Queens. He was eleven years old when they purchased their second restaurant, Villa Seconda, also in Queens, and thirteen when his parents sold the two Queens restaurants and launched their flagship restaurant, Felidia (a contraction of their two first names), on the East Side of Manhattan near the 59th Street Bridge. Joseph attended Fordham Preparatory School
Fordham Preparatory School
Fordham Preparatory School is a private Jesuit all-boys high school located in the Bronx, New York City, with an enrollment of approximately 950 students. It is located on the Rose Hill campus of Fordham University....
in the Bronx that allowed him to skip the eighth grade.
Joseph received his B.A. from Boston College
Boston College
Boston College is a private Jesuit research university located in the village of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA. The main campus is bisected by the border between the cities of Boston and Newton. It has 9,200 full-time undergraduates and 4,000 graduate students. Its name reflects its early...
, After college, he took a job working as a bond trader at Merrill Lynch on Wall Street, but soon after abandoned that career route to join the family's restaurant business.
Restaurants
Soon after joining his parents restaurant business, he convinced his parents to put up the capital and partner with him in 1993 to open Becco (Italian for "peck, nibble, savor") in the Theater District in Manhattan. Like Felidia, Becco was an instant success and catapulted the family into opening additional restaurants outside New York City, starting with Lidia's Kansas City likewise in 1993, the family's first restaurant outside of New York.In 1997, Felice and Lidia Bastianich, divorced after 31 years of marriage. His father resigned from the business and transferred his share in the partnership to their two children, Joseph and Tanya. The following year, Joe teamed up with chef Mario Batali
Mario Batali
Mario Batali is an American chef, writer, restaurateur and media personality. In addition to his classical culinary training, he is an expert on the history and culture of Italian cuisine, including regional and local variations. Batali co-owns restaurants in New York City, Las Vegas, Los Angeles,...
to open Babbo Ristorante e Enoteca. The restaurant earned three stars from The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
. Continuing the partnership, the pair opened seven more restaurants in New York City: Lupa, Esca, Casa Mono, Bar Jamón, Otto, Del Posto, and most recently (2010), Eataly. In Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, Bastianich and Batali opened Osteria Mozza and Pizzeria Mozza (which were later copied at the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore), and in Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
, B&B Ristorante, Enoteca San Marco, and Carnevino. Closer to home, the duo revived the old Tarry Lodge in Port Chester, New York
Port Chester, New York
Port Chester is a village in Westchester County, New York, United States. The village is part of the town of Rye. As of the 2010 census, Port Chester had a population of 28,967...
.
Wineries
Bastianich has established three wineries: Azienda Agricola Bastianich in FriuliFriuli
Friuli is an area of northeastern Italy with its own particular cultural and historical identity. It comprises the major part of the autonomous region Friuli-Venezia Giulia, i.e. the province of Udine, Pordenone, Gorizia, excluding Trieste...
; La Mozza s.r.l. in Maremma
Maremma
The Maremma is a vast area in Italy bordering the Tyrrhenian Sea, consisting of part of south-western Tuscany - Maremma Livornese and Maremma Grossetana , and part of northern Lazio - Maremma Laziale .The poet Dante Alighieri in his Divina Commedia places the...
, Tuscany
Tuscany
Tuscany is a region in Italy. It has an area of about 23,000 square kilometres and a population of about 3.75 million inhabitants. The regional capital is Florence ....
; and in Tritono Mendoza, Argentina
Mendoza, Argentina
Mendoza is the capital city of Mendoza Province, in Argentina. It is located in the northern-central part of the province, in a region of foothills and high plains, on the eastern side of the Andes. As of the , Mendoza's population was 110,993...
. He recently acquired the Brandini Estate in La Morra
La Morra
La Morra is a comune in the Province of Cuneo in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 50 km southeast of Turin and about 40 km northeast of Cuneo...
, Piedmont
Piedmont
Piedmont is one of the 20 regions of Italy. It has an area of 25,402 square kilometres and a population of about 4.4 million. The capital of Piedmont is Turin. The main local language is Piedmontese. Occitan is also spoken by a minority in the Occitan Valleys situated in the Provinces of...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
.
Books
Bastianich co-authored the award winning Vino Italiano and Vino Italiano Buying Guide with David LynchDavid Lynch (wine)
David Lynch is an American writer and wine expert. Lynch was raised in Connecticut and graduated from Boston College. He worked as a senior editor for Wine & Spirits magazine and has authored wine-related articles for numerous periodicals and websites...
. In 2005, he was recognized as "Outstanding Wine and Spirits Professional" by both the James Beard Foundation
James Beard Foundation
The James Beard Foundation is a New York-based national professional non-profit organization named in honor of James Beard that serves to promote the culinary arts by honoring chefs, wine professionals, journalists, and cookbook authors at annual award ceremonies and providing scholarships and...
and Bon Appétit
Bon Appétit
Bon Appétit describes itself as "a food and entertaining magazine" and is published monthly. Named after the French phrase for "Enjoy your meal", it was started by M. Frank Jones in Kansas City in 1956...
magazine. In 2008, he and Batali were awarded the James Beard Foundation’s Outstanding Restaurateur Award.
Bastianich is currently a judge on the American version of the television series MasterChef along with Gordon Ramsay
Gordon Ramsay
Gordon James Ramsay, OBE is a Scottish chef, television personality and restaurateur. He has been awarded 13 Michelin stars....
and Graham Elliot
Graham Elliot
Graham Elliot Bowles , known professionally as Graham Elliot, is a Chicago, Illinois-based chef.-Personal life:Elliot was born in Seattle, Washington, as a self-described "Navy brat". He dropped out of high school at the age of 16 and started out in the food business as a dishwasher and bus boy for...
. In 2011, he is also judge of Italian version of MasterChef.
Personal life
Bastianich lives in Greenwich, ConnecticutGreenwich, Connecticut
Greenwich is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. As of the 2010 census, the town had a total population of 61,171. It is home to many hedge funds and other financial service companies. Greenwich is the southernmost and westernmost municipality in Connecticut and is 38+ minutes ...
, with his wife and three children, Olivia, Miles, and Ethan.
Bastianich, who was overweight and suffering from several health issues, began running and eventually lost 45 pounds. He has also participated in several marathons.