Who

The business partner of Mario Batali and the son of famed chef Lidia Bastianich, Joe Bastianich co-owns Babbo, Otto, Del Posto, and a collection of other restaurants around town.

Backstory

Although he's the son of well-known toque Lidia Bastianich and spent his childhood in his parents' restaurants, Joe initially had no plans to go into the dining business: He majored in finance at Boston College and took a job at Merrill Lynch after graduation. He lasted about a year on Wall Street before quitting—as soon as he cashed his first bonus check, he jumped on a plane to Trieste where he worked a handful of menial jobs in the food and wine industries while living out of a VW bus. After returning to New York, a 23-year-old Bastianich opened the theater district spot Becco with his mother. But it was his partnership with Batali that made him rich and famous. In 1998, the duo first teamed up to open Babbo, which quickly reeled in a glittery clientele, a three-star Times review from Ruth Reichl, and the James Beard award for "Best New Restaurant" of 1998. Batali and Bastianich have since launched nearly a dozen culinary ventures in three cities.

Of note

Eight years Batali's junior but considerably more business-minded and mature, Bastianich is now recognized as one of the city's premier restaurateurs. Aside from Babbo, their empire now includes Lupa, Esca, Casa Mono, Bar Jamón, Otto, and—their grandest spot—Del Posto; they also co-own eateries in Los Angeles (Mozza) and Las Vegas (B&B Ristorante, Enoteca San Marco, Carnevino) and are investors in Ken Friedman's Spotted Pig and John Dory. (Their only flop to date? Bistro du Vent, a half-baked French restaurant that was shuttered in 2006). Separately from Bastianich's partnership with Batali, he and his mom co-own an Italian restaurant called Lidia's, which has one location in Kansas City and another in Pittsburgh. As if all that isn't enough, in recent years Bastianich has also managed to earn a rep as something of a wine authority: He spearheaded the opening Italian Wine Merchants, which he co-owns with Batali, and he's a co-owner of three vineyards, including two in Tuscany (Azienda Agricola Bastianich and La Mozza) and one in Argentina (Tritino).

Drama

In late 2005, Bastianich, his mom, and Batali joined forces for their biggest venture to date, the $12 million meatpacking district restaurant Del Posto. The eatery earned praise from critics—the Times' Frank Bruni gave it three stars—but from day one, the partners were embroiled in a nasty legal battle with the building's landlords. The fight ended in June 2007, when the building changed hands and the new owner said it would honor Del Posto's lease.

In print

Bastianich channeled his oenophilia into two comprehensive books, 2002's Vino Italiano and the 2004 follow-up Vino Italiano Buying Guide.

In person

Batali and Bastianich have been partners for more than a decade and have teamed up nearly every venture since, but they're hardly alike. While Batali has a rep for living hard, spouting profanity, and partying until the wee hours, Bastianich is far more unassuming and low-key. Not that he's without a wild side—Bastianich and Batali have been known to blow off steam with mammoth feasts, and The New Yorker's Bill Buford once noted that the pair occasionally blow through a full case of wine between the two of them at dinner.

Personal

Bastianich and his wife, Deanna Damiano, have three kids: Olivia, Miles, and Ethan. They live in the West 40s.