It sounds like Mario to me. He wears his hair a pony tail and is a big guy.

Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.mariobatali.com/

I found this??? Not sure

Here is a link that might be useful: ???maybe???

Vincent Schiavelli
Nino Graziano
Rocco DeSpirito
Giuliano Hazan
Me (I'm 6-1', 200# and Sicilian)?

Joe

Maybe Nick Stellino? He's Sicilian and is a "TV Chef."

Carol

Here is a link that might be useful: A Nick Stellino Cookbook

MIke Colameco recently lost some weight and cut his ponytail, but he still has a PBS show cooking show and I listen to him on WOR talk radio (NY). Maybe?

Here is a link that might be useful: Mike Colameco

I was going to say Colameco or Nick Stellino also! I noticed Colameco cut his pony tail off. I don't think Colameco has a cookbook. I like his show! I'd go with Nick Stellino. Big guy with a ponytail AND cookbooks!

Here is a link that might be useful: Colameco's Food show

I have no clue other than Mario...Michael Ch has short hair.

I'll be anxious to hear the answer!!

And a related question...who was the Canadian (Italian) show host who also had a cookbook, the only detail of which I can remember was that it was large...like 12-14" by 9or 10" and had yellow on it.

Ok, if I'm reading correctly, you think he's Italian, big (as in tall and hefty) and does NOT have a ponytail. Is taht right?

Two things that would be good clues is if he can remember if he saw the guy on tv on his own show (and what station) or always as a guest on someone else's and WHAT he cooks.
for some reason, I thought of Nick Maligieri, but NM mostly does baking.

thanx guys--i'll get this figured out one of these days. now i had asked about michael chiarello and he said no--that's when he told me the guys was big, so i asked about stellino or betalli and the slicked back hair/ponytail and he said no again. but terri might have something with johnny and damian...i'm not familiar with them but that doesn't mean dad isn't. and rocco isn't big/hefty enough to match up with what dad meant but gee joe, perhaps you are! dad just turned 91 and while i usually think my memory is more clear and straight-forward than his, that's not ALWAYS factual :) he's pretty clear on world events and syracuse university sports--that's for sure! sometimes i just have a difficult time making the connections in thinking that he does...

and bean--you are right! i certainly could have asked him if this cook had his own show or was guesting... i was just so floored to hear him say there was something he wanted, i wasn't thinking as fast as i should have been! i appreciate the thoughts and will work to get the answer. and it's great to have these other names to offer up to him--thanx alot and keep them coming, please!

Robert Irvine is a pretty big guy. He has a show, and a cookbook!

Here is a link that might be useful: Robert Irvine -- Dinner Impossible

Not Italian at all but he's big and Loves to cook!! How about Emeril LeGasse?...He looks a little Italian....and cooks with lots of tomatoes and garlic....
Maybe?
Linda C

dishes--i love watching robert irvine--i think he's just great all the way around! i think dad would have said "muscular" if that's who he was referring to but i'll add that to my list of possible names :)

and frankly linda--i think you have a real possibility with emeril. i believe he's at least part portugeuse but wasn't he raised in some predominantly italian area of MA? i just can't remember the details...but dad is pure russian and if you aren't part of the russian/polish/baltic background, i think most others likely seem sort of the same to him. anyway, i'll add emeril to the list of possibilities! actually, i wish i'd thought to come up with that name this afternoon...

Antonio Carluccio? He's not Sicilian but from southern Italy. I love his shows- I'd kill to be in his entourage!

My guess is also the late actor Vincent Schiavelli. He was huge (6'5"), Sicilian, was on TV occasionally and wrote three cookbooks. He was one of the ghosts in "Ghost."

From imdb: Vincent Schiavelli, selected in 1997 by Vanity Fair as one of the best character actors in America, had made over 120 film and television appearances. He studied acting at NYU's Theatre Program. Aside from his acting career, Vincent was the author of three cookbooks, and has written numerous articles on food for magazines and newspapers. In 2001, he received the James Beard Journalism Award.

Good grief, is Mr. BAM still around even? Yeah, he's part Portuguese -- much to DH's dismay he's not only Portuguese, but born in the same town DH's family is from. I keep telling him they could be related, and he keeps telling me not even joke about that.

EL is not very tall, though. Stout, but not very tall. When I think "BIG guy", I think more like Mario or Rocco.

Diana's bio of Vincent Schiavelli leads me to the following suggestion: google the "likely suspects" and find their bios online. Then, print out the photos that you find and show them to Dad. Even though he doesn't remember the name, he'd probably recognize the photo.

Sue

If you think your dad would remember what tv station the guy is on (PBS, or a local station, or the food network) that might help narrow it down...

Emily

Vincent Schiavelli....go rent 'One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest' again. Fun to see him, Christopher Lloyd and Danny Devito (both with hair). RIP Vincent, great character actor, didn't know he cooked!

I also thought 'Emeril' when I first read san's description.