Mario Batali To Chop Off Iconic Ponytail For $500,000

Mario Batali might chop off his trademark ponytail, if the price is right. The chef has partnered with Food & Wine magazine and nine of the country's top chefs for Chefs Make Change (CMC), a nationwide campaign that launches today. CMC aims to raise one million dollars for the chefs' respective philanthropic organizations; individuals can donate money on Food & Wine's Facebook page or website.

If the organization can raise $500,000 for the Mario Batali Foundation by February 7, Mario Batali will part with his ponytail. We're all for good causes, but we have to admit that we've sort of grown to love Batali's hairdo. If he floats the idea of ditching his famous orange Crocs, however, we might put down some serious coinage.

Below is the list of the chefs involved, and their respective charities:

Jose Andres: World Central Kitchen. Helps feed countries in crisis worldwide using sustainable cooking methods.
Dan Barber: Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture. Trains young farmers to improve the way America eats and farms.
Mario Batali: Mario Batali Foundation. Helps feed, protect, educate and empower children.
Rick Bayless: The Frontera Farmer Foundation. Promotes small, sustainable farms serving the Chicago area by providing them with capital development grants.
Cat Cora: Chefs for Humanity. Reduces hunger worldwide by supporting humanitarian relief and promoting nutrition education.
Emeril Lagasse: Emeril Lagasse Foundation. Inspires underprivileged kids with the power and possibility of food.
Michel Nischan: Wholesome Wave. Helps underserved communities become the heroes of a changed food system through personal choice.
Art Smith: Common Threads. Teaches low-income children the importance of nutrition and physical well-being and fosters an appreciation of cultural diversity through after-school cooking programs.
Bill Telepan: Wellness in the Schools. Inspires healthy eating and fitness as a way of life for public school students.
Alice Waters: The Edible Schoolyard Project. Transforms the health and values of children by building a food curriculum for schools.

To learn more about the campaign, click here.

Also on HuffPost:

Comments

[GeorgiaVeteran]

04:06 PM on 01/12/2012

Amazing.....a guy tries to do something for charity and a bunch of people can't wait to jump all over him. I suspect not one of them has ever even met him.

One has to wonder if/where they go to church.

[matdough]

11:57 AM on 01/12/2012

The pony tail will be in the soup !

[jl4141]

10:34 AM on 01/12/2012

How much for the entire head?

(Kidding! Love ya, Mario!)

[Poovoh]

08:05 AM on 01/12/2012

He's such an arrogant dou che . Can't stand him. STUCK UP.

[Tan Thanh Bui]

04:33 AM on 01/12/2012

I'd chop his orange clogs as well. Not too fond of the guy albeit his foods is good! Please get rid of Zimmerman, a shame to have him travel to other countries.

[my3geez]

02:54 AM on 01/12/2012

What a lot of snotty comments about this fella ............ apparently most have not noticed ... he has dropped about 50 pounds already and looks better by the day

[pgs115]

12:48 AM on 01/12/2012

Take a ride to you tube and click on the video " Josie the next food networkstar " see her fresh cooking five star dishes she's one of kind around the world everyone is intimidate by her cooking and they are afraid to invite her for a dinner, because no one can compete with her natural, fat free and without preserve cooking she's not using nothing from cans or frozen food, and also she does not shop where the meat it's not fresh you have to meet this unique woman she's incredible not only that she make the food delightful but also the best Tiramisu I have had incredibly delicious , home made wine, Pure olive oil, fresh tomato sauce, olive in brine and everything she makes as no preserve. Her home is full of goodness and is always open to family and friends with over whelming compliments if she gets one chance to be on one of the cooking show she will make everyone melt away. you need to meet her on your show this is the e-mail you can get in touch with [e-mail] do it you will not be sorry. You will be glad to meet her she's the sweetest woman that you want to know. Let me give you few name that she as been with
Wolfgang puck, Michael Vetri, Fabio Viviani, Darrel Harman, she cooked with Fabio on stage at one of the convention show, she’s done private dinner for politician, she’s Unremarkable,

[ninjacb]

01:56 PM on 01/12/2012

go advertise elsewhere please. we don't need any "endorsements" of up and comers on this site.

[soiqueendgs]

10:47 PM on 01/11/2012

He should chop it off. He looks like an idiot. And the short pants?

[Poovoh]

08:07 AM on 01/12/2012

Yeah, that's his "uniform" - the pony tail, the silly fleece vests, shorts (in sub zero weather) and those stupid crocks. He's so arrogant, has to have his uniform to stand out in a crowd. Can't stand him!

[ninjacb]

01:57 PM on 01/12/2012

he dresses like a clown because he IS a clown. no offense to clowns intended. this guy is just so much smoke and mirrors. unattractive appearance is the least of his offenses.

[Al Schrader]

07:16 PM on 01/11/2012

My dad was a chef in New York and prepared food for people like Rockefeller, etc. He taught me since I was 14 , I'm 55 now. I've made dishes for over 100,000 guests and catering clients.
A master chef never wears long hair...Alfie-

[Poovoh]

08:08 AM on 01/12/2012

Amen!

[tramontanavic]

07:02 PM on 01/11/2012

Who cares about his ponytail.....?

[Corcoran Jacque]

05:48 PM on 01/11/2012

as a professional chef for over 25 years I am embarrassed to say that there are far better charities for him to donate to for chopping the tail

Rethink this please it is embarassing...

[ninjacb]

01:59 PM on 01/12/2012

i would be suspect of any foundation created in his name. lets see the stats and the actual beneficiaries before anyone donates a penny to his "foundation". and he wants 500k. laughable.

[smelly katz]

05:48 PM on 01/11/2012

oh what a shame. i didne in dear mario's establishment whenever i visit new york.. i will miss that ponytail and the millions of hairs i had in mu bisque crabbe. sela vie..tu jours

[dickn2000b]

06:45 PM on 01/11/2012

What does, "i didne in dear mario's establishm­ent whenever i visit new york..." mean?

[certmuff]

05:45 PM on 01/11/2012

How much to ditch the crocs

[Poovoh]

08:09 AM on 01/12/2012

lmfao

[robertsandimas]

05:44 PM on 01/11/2012

There's lots of negativity about Mario here. In spite of his appearance, he probably has more in the bank than any 10 (or 20) of us commenters here. I agree, he does need to tend to his health. He is a an excellent cook. And I do like him and the show, "The Chew." It's light and giggly and a little silly but fun. Michael Symon is my favorite.

[lita m]

06:37 PM on 01/11/2012

What does having money in the bank to do with anything? The ponytail is not a good look for him; chubby men with round heads and receding hairlines can improve their looks immensely by ditching it. Ponytails make their heads look like a balloon. I applaud him, though, for his donation to charity.

[Poovoh]

08:09 AM on 01/12/2012

Michael Symon has some humility at least. I like him, too.

[Ev Ciak]

05:33 PM on 01/11/2012

If he cuts off his ponytail it doesn't matter. It's hair, it grows. I like him. I like his food and personality especially on the chew. It's just a matter of opinion. Good for him!