Mario Batali — 25 restaurants nationwide, 10 cookbooks, Emmy Award-winning major network television show The Chew — Batali will be in Jamaica, November 14-15 for NyamJam.

Thursday Life (TL): Your passion for cooking commenced when… Mario Batali (MB): I caught my first whiff of my grandma’s legendary calves’ brain ravioli cooking in the kitchen during the holidays. I’ve been in deep love with cooking simple, classic Italian food ever since.

TL: What are your five larder essentials? MB: Hot sauce, extra virgin olive oil, Maldon sea salt, red chilli flakes and freshly cracked black pepper.

TL: Your favourite food to eat is? MB: Linguine with clams.

TL: Butter or olive oil? MB: Extra virgin olive oil.

TL: Wine or Champagne? MB: Vino!

TL: Jerk sauce or Scotch bonnet pepper? MB: Scotch bonnet pepper.

TL: You are coming to Jamaica because… MB: I’m hosting a dinner with Chris Blackwell as well as other incredibly talented chefs for the NyamJam, a Jamaican food and music festival. Together we’re celebrating the authentic spirit and culture of the country, and the best way I know how to do that is through delicious food with 150 of my closest friends!

TL: What are you eager to enjoy in Jamaica? MB: … Nothing quite compares to the moment Jamaican rum hits my lips. Wheeyumbang!! TL: Your best food experience to date is… MB: I have a new favourite food experience almost every day! The most recent was at Il Latini in Florence, Italy.

Thursday Life shares more of Reyna Mastrosimone’s roster of chefs for NyamJam next week