Eataly

Eataly is a chain of large Italian food halls comprising a variety of restaurants, food and beverage counters, bakery, retail stores, and a cooking school. Eataly was founded by Oscar Farinetti, an entrepreneur formerly involved in the consumer electronics business, and collaborates with Slow Food.

==Origin== thumb|The first of three Eataly branches in New York City, seen in September 2010 thumb|Eataly in São Paulo, Brazil, now closed thumb|Eataly in Sherway Gardens, [[Toronto, Canada]] In January 2007, Italian businessman Oscar Farinetti opened the first location of Eataly, converting a closed vermouth factory in the Lingotto district of Turin. Easily accessible via the Lingotto metro station, the establishment has been described by The New York Times as a "megastore" that "combines elements of a bustling European open market, a Whole-Foods-style supermarket, a high-end food court and a New Age learning center." Farinetti planned early on that additional stores would open elsewhere in Italy and in New York City with help of investor chef Mario Batali.