by Michael Gebert

Mario Batali may be the most celebrated Italian restaurant chef in America at the moment. He's unquestionably the most recognizable—imposingly big, bookended by orange hair at one end and his trademark orange clogs at the other end, equally trademark vest in between.

Having established his image visually, not to mention staring back at you from more than a few products around the store, he takes the Batali brand lightly in person, talking sincerely and approachably about what you discover in good Italian food—he calls it a "Holy Jeez" moment—and how the massive new Eataly Chicago is going to bring that into your life.

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Source: http://www.chicagoreader.com/