Mario Batali on gourmet food

Have you ever ordered a $300 appetizer, gotten served little more than pureed entrails with very pretty slices of grape, and thought: “Damn, I just want a burger?”

Mario Batali laughs and takes this all in stride. There’s a battle between what the cook thinks is high art and what the customer just wants to eat.”

Thank God this is a chef that can serve food that actually (gasp!) fills your stomach. Novel concept.