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Mario Batali is coming to Carmel

The Nov. 21 appearance at Market District is free to the public, but you must pre-register

Liz Biro
liz.biro@indystar.com
  • How to get tickets
  • Batali's Indy history
Celebrity chef Mario Batali appears Nov. 21 at Market District in Carmel.

Carmel’s new Market District supermarket didn’t wait long to come clean on its promise to bring celebrity chefs to the store. Mario Batali arrives Nov. 21.

The 12:30 to 2 p.m. appearance is free to the public, but tickets are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Batali chats and signs cookbooks at three 30-minute sessions, each with space for 400 guests. Advanced ticket registration is available at www.marketdistrict.com/events.

One of America’s most famous chefs, Batali hosts ABC show “The Chew,” which won an Emmy this year. He also penned 10 cookbooks and owns 23 restaurants in the United States and abroad, including 10 in New York City, two in Singapore and 1 in Hong Kong.

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As co-owner of sprawling Eataly Italian markets, with various locations in the United States and abroad, Batali has an interesting history with Indianapolis. In 2014, Eataly demanded that an Indy food truck named Little Eataly stop using the name.

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The owners’ attorney thought the name posed no trademark infringement, but the truck’s operators told IndyStar that they did not have the resources to fight a legal battle. Today, Chae Carmack turns out the truck’s Italian food menu under the name The Twisted Sicilian.

During Batali’s visit, his newest cookbook, “America-From Farm to Table: Simple, Delicious Recipes Celebrating Local Farmers,” will be available at Market District. Customers with a Market District Advantage Card will receive a 25 percent discount on the cookbook.

Market District in Carmel opened Oct. 7 at 11545 N. Illinois St. Batali will appear in the 120,000-square-foot specialty grocer's second-floor auditorium. The space also includes a demonstration kitchen. Market District representatives say to expect more celebrity chef appearances at the store. Other Market Districts have hosted Michael Symon and Ted Allen.

Carmel's Market District store hosts a cooking school upstairs that sometimes features celebrity chefs and foodies. Market District has worked with Michael Symon, Ted Allen and Mario Batali, who visits the store Nov. 21. The classroom is part of a large, second-floor auditorium where Batali will appear.

Call Liz Biro at (317) 444-6264. Follow her on Twitter @lizbiro, Instagram @lizbiro, Facebook and Pinterest.