Mario Batali joins Foursquare, leaves yummy tips

Mario Batali officially joined Foursquare this morning. The famed chef and restauranteur will be checking in and leaving tips at his favorite venues.

Interested users and diehard foodies can follow him here. In addition, Batali has partnered with Foursquare to offer specials at all 15 of his restaurants in NYC, LA and Vegas. While the Chef has only been using the app for two week, he is currently holding down mayorships at La Tapa and Fatty Crab in Cruz Bay on the island of St. John.

Users can unlock the Mario Batali custom badge if they follow him and check in at his restaurants. Most of his tips are New York centric, and for foodies and cocktail enthusiasts, all of them are worth checking out.

“We thought he’d make an ideal partner since he’s known for his creativity, boldness, sense of adventure, and Foursquare is all about encouraging exploration and new experiences,” says a Foursquare representative.

Through the app, Batali will be able to share insider information about his favorite places with fans, allowing them to explore the city through his eyes. You can also follow Batali on Twitter.

Batali joins the ranks of other social media savvy chefs like Anthony Bourdain, who recently compiled a list of city guides for Foodspotting.

Other celebrities on Foursquare include Ashton Kutcher, Shaquille O’Neal, Eliza Dushku and Jersey Shore’s DJ Pauly D.