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You may know him as a judge from MasterChef and Restaurant Startup, but Joe Bastianich has been known in the food world for quite some time as the quiet force behind some of the world’s most successful restaurants. With his business partners, Mario Batali (the fire-haired, Croc devotee who needs no real introduction) and his mom, Lidia Bastianich (the much-beloved host of Italian cooking shows on PBS), he’s launched more than 20 eateries—including the instantly recognizable Eatalys, Babbo and Del Posto—and he was honored with the 2008 James Beard Award for Outstanding Restaurateur.
And that’s not even getting into what he’s done on his own. An Ironman, marathoner and musician in addition to writing books on food and wine, Bastianich also co-owns several restaurants with his mom in addition to a winery.
To that end, Bastianich will be at Angelina’s of Bonita Springs on Saturday, Feb. 18, from 3-5 p.m., for a meet and greet and tasting of the wines from his family vineyard, a 90-acre parcel in Northeastern Italy they purchased in 1997.
Tickets are $50 for the event and will include pours from eight of the wines under three labels (the Bastianich Orsone and Cru lines, plus the separate La Mozza), along with hors d’oeuvres like arancini, butternut squash ravioli, salumi and Italian cheeses. Space is limited to just 40 people, so call soon if you want to guarantee a chance to click glasses and say “cin, cin” with the Italian wine and eatery expert himself (239-390-3187).
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