Say it ain't so, Molto Mario! (Oh God, sorry.) The only New Yorker we've ever forgiven for wearing Crocs has been fired from the Food Network. Mario Batali, star of the shows Molto Mario and Iron Chef America, has been dropped from the popular channel's lineup. He'll still have his upcoming PBS show about Spanish cooking with Gwyneth Paltrow, but let's be honest, watching that is going to be like spying on the princess and Rumpelstiltskin on a road trip together. Nobody wants to see that. We're hoping with more time on his hands, he'll be able to open more fabulous restaurants in the city — maybe even ones at which we can get reservations.

Food Net Chef Mario Flames Out [NYP]