A lot's been said about Mario Batali's orange Crocs — pretty much everything. They've become more like the punchline to a joke than a choice in footwear, but when you favor a rubber neon clog over an unassuming sneaker, you're sort of inviting the commentary.

It's the Crocs you see first when Batali walks down the street. Even in Manhattan's bustling Flatiron neighborhood, home to his Eataly flagship, they're hard to miss. A quick glance up — uh huh, there's the ponytail — and to the side — yep, I see the scooter — confirms you're looking right at him: The chef who perfected, if not invented, the modern-day cooking show.