One of the most celebrated Italian chefs in New York City, Scott Conant is at the top of his game. Chef-owner of the very successful Scarpetta restaurants in NYC and Miami Beach, he opened his newest restaurant, Faustina, in early 2010. And next week, he'll be opening a brand new Scarpetta branch in Toronto—his first international project. Additionally, Scott is the host of new Food Network show 24 Hour Restaurant Battle, where teams of two compete every week for to open a restaurant in a mere 24 hours. I chatted with Scott about all of these projects and more. More

[Photos: Nikki Goldstein] I'm always conflicted between the urge to order something plain and sweet at brunch—like pancakes or waffles—or something savory that might be a little more creative (or come with a runny yolk). At Scott Conant's Faustina,... More

[Photos: Carey Jones] When Ed Levine first tasted Scott Conant's spaghetti with tomato and basil at Scarpetta, it was love at first bite. And he was hardly the only diner so enamored. While Scott Conant's trattoria has been widely... More

The food at Scarpetta is not a radical departure for Scott Conant. In fact, you can call it Conant's Greatest Hits, with a few new tracks thrown in for good measure. Conant's food has always been honest, soulful, and mercifully devoid of gimmickry, and I wanted to see if it could withstand a retractable roof. More