Magic, Martinis & Mario: Super Chef Catering

By JULIETTE ROSSANT What is the latest in celebrity chef catering? -- Magic, Martinis & Mario. The idea is to capture the lucrative corporate party circuit by offering entertainment front and center. A corporation doesn't just get Mario Batali and his catered food; they get Mario mingling with the guests, creating dishes right in front of them (just like Molto Mario on the Food Network). They also get Billy Harris, a comedian and magician, performing card tricks and Tony Abou-Ganim mixing up specialty cocktails named after VIPs. The outfit doesn't come cheap. Book Magic, Martinis & Mario for $100,000 a function, six months in advance – food and expenses, not included. How new is this idea? Many corporate parties hire musicians, Las Vegas performers, and celebrity chefs who mingle with the crowd during the event – just read Super Chef's opening chapter on Wolfgang Puck, who catered a BMW event that featured James Brown belting out tunes. What is different and new is the packaging – complete with a handy 3M tagline that gets people thinking about hiring all their entertainment and food together. Magic, Martinis & Mario are also doing non-corporate events like a fundraiser for EarthLab Foundation on September 18th at Del Posto. 130 guests will get a four-course dinner, cocktails and entertainment by the trio, along with wines from La Mozza, and Friuli Bastianich vineyard and prizes including an Ernst Benz watch. Previous articles: Mario Batali: Still on Food Network? Mario Dumps Iron Chef for Gwyneth Paltrow Mario Batali's Ernst Benz Watch Mario Batali Bistro Crocs FOOD FLICKS: Mario Batali on Jimmy Kimmel Mario Batali Marketing Webcast TIME for Mario Mario Batali: 2 Brothers Mario Batali Tailgates NASCAR Style Newsweek Cites Juliette Rossant on Mario Batali Juliette Rossant: Forbes Tastemakers Mario Batali: Molto Italiano Newsweek Bets on Mario Batali's Basting Brush Iron Chef Pizza Wars: Batali v. Puck Nancy Silverton & Mario Batali's Mozza Anita Lo Defeats Mario Batali on Iron Chef America Molto Mario Massascres Mahi [Food Television - complete] Technorati Tags: superchefblog, Juliette Rossant, super chef, celebrities, chefs, food, restaurants, cooking, branding, cuisine, blogging, food blogging, Mario Batali --> back to Super Chef