Mario Batali is one of the most present and influential TV and social personalities in the culinary world, but the hype is not unwarranted. He truly is the reigning Italian master of both the East and West Coast, and he intends on keeping it that way. I ate at his New York hotspot Babbo last year and was blown away by the superb wine list, authentic thin-crust pizza, and the best gelato I've ever had (including the 800 gelatos I stuffed down my throat while in Italy ). Now Mozza Pizzeria & Mozza Osteria is sweeping Los Angeles; by far the most popular restaurant in town (make your reservations 1 month in advance). Is there anything this Iron Chef can't do? Therefore, when looking for the best pasta recipes, why not look to the veteran pasta-maker. Enjoy these special dishes from Chef Mario Batali!

Pappardelle with Boar Ragu

4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 medium Spanish onion, cut into 1/8-inch dice
1/2 small carrot, cut into 1/8-inch dice
1/2 rib celery, cut into 1/8-inch thick slices
1 teaspoon anchovy paste
1 tablespoon hot chili flakes
1 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary leaves
1 cup dry red wine
1 cup basic tomato sauce
1/2 pound fresh boar shoulder (may substitute lamb or venison) cut into 1-inch cubes
Salt and pepper to taste
1 recipe basic pasta dough, rolled to the thinnest setting and cut into 1-inch wide ribbons

In a heavy 6 to 8-quart saucepan, heat the olive oil until smoking. Add the onion, carrot and celery and cook until softened and light brown (about 12 to 15 minutes). Add the anchovy paste, chili flakes, rosemary, red wine and tomato sauce and bring to a boil. Season the meat with salt and pepper and drop into the tomato sauce mixture. Return to a boil and lower to simmer and cook 90 minutes. The meat should be falling apart with the poke of a fork. Allow to cool 10 minutes. In a food processor, barely pulse 4-ounce ladles of meat mixture until "stew" resembles meat sauce. Check for seasoning and set aside.

Bring 6 quarts of water to a boil and add 2 tablespoons salt.

Place the ragu in a saucepan and bring to a boil.

Drop the pappardelle into the boiling water and cook until tender yet firm. Drain the pasta in a colander over the sink and pour into the ragu. Toss gently to coat and pour into a warm serving bowl and serve immediately.

Basic Tomato Sauce

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 Spanish onion, chopped in 1/4-inch dice
4 garlic cloves, peeled and thinly sliced
3 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme leaves, or 1 tablespoon dried
1/2 medium carrot, finely shredded
2 (28-ounce) cans peeled whole tomatoes, crushed by hand and juices reserved
Salt, to taste

In a 3-quart saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook until soft and light golden brown, about 8 to 10 minutes. Add the thyme and carrot and cook 5 minutes more, until the carrot is quite soft. Add the tomatoes and juice and bring to a boil, stirring often. Lower the heat and simmer for 30 minutes until as thick as hot cereal. Season with salt and serve. This sauce holds 1 week in the refrigerator or up to 6 months in the freezer. Yield: 4 cups

Basic Pasta Dough

31/2 to 4 cups flour
4 eggs
1/2 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil

Mound 3 1/2 cups of the flour in the center of a large wooden cutting board. Make a well in the middle of the flour and add the eggs and the olive oil. Using a fork, beat together the eggs and oil and begin to incorporate the flour, starting with the inner rim of the well.

As you expand the well, keep pushing the flour up from the base of the mound to retain the well shape. The dough will come together when half of the flour is incorporated.

Start kneading the dough with both hands, using the palms of your hands. Once you have a cohesive mass, remove the dough from the board and scrape up and discard any leftover bits. Lightly reflour the board and continue kneading for 6 more minutes. The dough should be elastic and a little sticky. Wrap the dough in plastic and allow to rest for 30 minutes at room temperature. Roll or shape as desired.

Spaghetti with Clams and Mussels: Spaghetti con Vongole e Cozze

1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
4 cloves garlic, sliced
2 cups canned tomatoes, drained and coarsely chopped
Sea salt and black pepper
1 pound Manila clams, scrubbed
1 pound small mussels, scrubbed
1/2 cup white wine
1 pound spaghetti
1 bunch Italian parsley, finely chopped to yield 1/4 cup

Bring 6 quarts of water to a boil and add 2 tablespoons salt.
In a 12 to 14-inch saute pan, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat, and add the garlic. Cook 2 minutes, then add the tomatoes. Raise the heat and cook until the tomatoes give off their juices, about 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and add the mollusks and white wine. Cook, stirring and tossing, until all of the mollusks have opened, about 10 minutes. Discard any that have not opened.
Meanwhile, cook the pasta in the boiling water until tender yet al dente, about 7 minutes. Drain and add to the pan with the sauce. Cook over high heat 2 minutes, adding the parsley and adjusting the seasoning with salt and pepper, to taste. Serve immediately.

Recipes courtesy of The Food Network

Story by Erin Landsberg