Joe Bastianich

Joseph Bastianich(born September 17, 1968) is an American restaurateur, author and television personality. He, along with his mother and business partnerLidia Bastianich, co-owns thirty restaurants in four countries, includingOsteria Mozzain Los Angeles, which the owners expanded in 2010. Earlier that same year, they teamed up with businessmanOscar Farinettito bringEataly, an upscale food and wine market, to Dallas, Boston, Chicago, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York City, London and Stockholm.
Joseph Bastianich was born on September 17, 1968, inAstoria, Queens,toIstrian Italianimmigrants Felice andLidia Bastianich.His parents were born in Istria (Yugoslavia, now Croatia) and moved to the United States in 1958 during the largeIstrian exodus. While Italian by nationality, public DNA tests have shown that Joe's family on his mother's side is largely ofEastern European - YugoslavianandSoutheastern Europeandescent. His mother has stated that she feels very Italian, but that she relates to her Slavic roots too.Raised working in his parents' Italian restaurant Felidia inManhattan, he attendedFordham Preparatory Schoolbefore attendingBoston College, where he studied and earned a degree in finance.
After spending a year onWall Streetas abond trader, he gave up his newly launched career and ventured into the food industry.He took an extended trip to Italy. In 1993, he opened Becco (Italian for 'peck', 'nibble', 'savor'), an Italian restaurant with his mother,Lidia Bastianich. He then partnered withMario Batalito open Babbo Ristorante e Enoteca, an Italian restaurant that gained the prestigious three stars fromThe New York Times,the first Italian restaurant to gain the award in 40 years. Babbo also has earned oneMichelin star.Together they opened seven more restaurants inNew York: Lupa, Esca, Casa Mono, Bar Jamon, Otto,Del PostoandEataly(an Italian marketplace). In 2010, Del Posto received a four star review fromThe New York Times,one of only five restaurants inNew Yorkto win that award.Their culinary empire has expanded to 10 restaurants in New York, four restaurants inLas Vegas, three restaurants inLos Angeles, two restaurants inSingapore, one Italian market inChicago, one Italian market inBoston, one Italian market inLondon, and two restaurants inHong Kong.After being accused of sexual harassment, Batali gave up his restaurants, selling his shares to Bastianich and his sisterTanya Bastianich Manuali.Otto Enoteca Pizzeria closed during the coronavirus pandemic. When it closed,TimeOutwrote "it was the type of place that was nice yet casual enough to go on any night of the week with plenty of tables the white marble-coveredenoteca(offering wine, cheese andsalumi) and the more formal dining area focusing on pastas and pizzas. We'll also miss the olive oil gelato."
Bastianich has co-authored two award-winning books on Italian wine, and his memoir,Restaurant Man, became aNew York TimesBest Sellerwithin a week of its release in May 2012.
Bastianich was a judge on the AmericanMasterChefseries broadcast byFoxuntil it took too much of his time,andMasterChef Junioruntil he was replaced on both series byChristina Tosiin the spring of 2015 after he exited the franchise in November 2014. However, he eventually returned to temporarily judge Season 6 ofMasterChef Junioron March 2, 2018and has returned to the judging panel as a full-time judge onMasterChefsince Season 9 in June 2018.He was also a judge on the Italian version of the program.MasterChef Italiashown onSky Unofor its first 8 seasons.In May 2019, Bastianich announced his departure from MasterChef Italia in order to dedicate himself to his passion for music. In mid-September of the same year, Bastianich released his first album, titled "Aka Joe". In late January 2020, he will star in a musical concert tour around Italy, featuring his "New York Stories" album.
He has also guest starred as a guest judge onMasterChef Canadaon Season 1, Episode 14.He co-starred alongsideTim LoveandAntonia Lofasoin the American reality showRestaurant StartuponCNBC, for which he is the executive producer along withEndemol Shine North America.
Bastianich also made a special appearance in the 2015 television filmAn American Girl: Grace Stirs Up Successas a judge in a fictional season ofMasterChef Junior.
From March 22, 2016, he presented, with Guido Meda andDavide Valsecchi, the first edition ofTop Gear Italia. He also served as a judge on the judging panel ofItalia's Got Talentand Family Food Fight Italia, airing on Sky Uno in the spring of 2020.
In a 2018 episode ofMasterChef Italia, Bastianich made several jokes at the expense of Chinese men to Asian women giving him a manicure and pedicure at a beauty salon in Milan'sChinatown.When asked by the blog Grub Street for comment, Bastianich responded that "this was a scripted segment shot in a Milan nail salon that I've gone to regularly. I know the women, and we were given the questions to discuss in advance. That said, it's clear that some of what I said was in poor taste and not reflective of my views. I'm sorry I said those things."
In 2024, Bastianich competed inseason 11ofThe Masked Singeras "Spaghetti & Meatballs". He was eliminated on "Billy JoelNight".
Batali and Bastianich Hospitality Group own several restaurants mostly in New York City and Los Angeles, including Becco in NYC, Chi Spacca and Osteria Mozza in Los Angeles.
Bastianich lives inNew York City, with his wife, Deanna, and their children, Olivia, Ethan, and Miles.He speaksItalian.
Starting in 2015, several employees at Batali & Bastianich allegedsexual harassmentagainstMario Batali.TheAttorney General of New Yorksubsequently began an investigation and found a culture of widespread sexual harassment and retaliation at the Batali & Bastianich Hospitality Group. In March 2019, Batali surrendered ownership of his stakes in Batali & Bastianich Hospitality Group, a partnership between Batali and the Bastianich family, including Joe and Lidia Bastianich.In 2019, Bastianich and Batali reached a $600,000 sexual harassment settlement to at least 20 former employees.The Bastianiches said in 2019 that B&B Hospitality Group's name will change,and by July 2019, it had changed to Pasta Resources.