Celebrity chef Mario Batali, who co-owns a pair of area restaurants and an artisanal market, is under criminal investigation by the New York Police Department for sexual assault, according to a report broadcast last night on the CBS program “60 Minutes.”
Batali, who co-owns and co-operates the Tarry Lodge and the Tarry Market in Port Chester and the Tarry Lodge Westport, took a leave of absence from his businesses last December when he became the subject of media reports of sexual misconduct during the 1990s and 2000s.
Batali was not interviewed by “60 Minutes,” but issued a statement related to the anonymous woman”™s claims that read: “I vehemently deny the allegation that I sexually assaulted this woman. My past behavior has been deeply inappropriate and I am sincerely remorseful for my actions. I am not attempting a professional comeback. My only focus is finding a personal path forward ”” a path where I can continue in my charitable endeavors ”” helping the underprivileged and those in need.”
The NYPD did not issue any public statement that expanded on the depth of their investigation into Batali.