I’ve always been a fan of Mario Batali’s shows on Food Network.\u00a0 Molto Mario has been on for many years and he is a regular on Iron Chef America.\u00a0 Hopefully he will get a program on another channel.\u00a0 Next time I’m in the city, I’m going to check out one of his restaurants.<\/p>\n

NEW YORK POST<\/font>September 5, 2007 — Chef Mario Batali has been chopped from TV’s Food Network, the influential cooking channel that made him a household name.<\/p>\n

Sources said that network executives told the spotlight-loving chef last month his multiple shows, which includes the long-running “Molto Mario,” would not be renewed and that he would no longer be competing in the popular “Iron Chef America” series.<\/p>\n

“He said that if his shows weren’t going to be renewed, then he wasn’t going to do ‘Iron Chef,’ ” said a network insider. “And then they essentially said ‘ciao.’ ”<\/p>\n

“We do not comment on contractual agreements that Food Network has with talent,” said network spokeswoman Lisa Del Colle after numerous calls.<\/p>\n

The ubiquitous chef, who runs several Italian-themed restaurants in Manhattan – with recent additions in Los Angeles and Las Vegas – has also made a fortune plugging products ranging from clogs to the NASCAR tailgate-party circuit.<\/p>\n

He began with the Food Network in 1996 after opening Po and two years before opening Babbo with business partner Joseph Bastianich.<\/p>\n

“Having a show on the Food Network is like gold,” said one industry analyst. In 2005, Batali received a $1 million advance for his book, “Molto Italiano.”<\/p>\n

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