Eataly buys out chef Mario Batali

Mario Batali is officially out at Eataly. A spokesperson for the American branch of the large- scale Italian marketplace recently told The Associated Press that it had bought out the disgraced chef ’s minority stake in the business.

Nearly two years ago, four women came forward with allegations of sexual misconduct. As Eater reported at the time, the women — three of whom had worked for Batali and the fourth who was also involved in the restaurant industry — accused him of inappropriate touching “in a pattern of behaviour that appears to span at least two decades.”

According to Eataly USA representative Chris Giglio, Batali has had “no direct involvement” with the company since December 2017, which is when the allegations first came to light. Ending a 20-year partnership with Joe Bastianich, the chef divested from all 16 of his restaurants in March, when the Bastianich family and other partners acquired his shares and restructured the group.

In May, Batali pleaded not guilty to charges of indecent assault and battery at a Boston, Mass. bar. Natali Tene, who had previously thought of herself as a fan of Batali’s, accused him of kissing and groping her against her will in April 2017. He’s due to appear in court on Aug. 30 in connection with the case, which represents the first criminal charge to be levied against him.

Eataly, which has nearly 40 locations worldwide, is to open its first Canadian outpost in Toronto this fall. As the Financial Post reports, Andrea Guerra, the company’s executive president, sees the 50,000-square-foot, three- storey flagship as the beginning of what could be “a legitimate expansion into Canada.