Mark Ladner, protege of Mario Batali and chef/partner at Lupa and Otto in
Manhattan, began his education at Johnson & Wales before moving to his native Boston to cook with Todd English at the original Olives in Charlestown, Massachusetts. Mark then moved to New York City where he worked for several years with Scott Bryan and Jean Georges Vongeritchen before opening Babbo as a sous-chef. Mark then opened Lupa and Otto with partners, Batali, Joe Basianich and Jason Denton.

Mark cooks a sensible blend of rustic Italian flavors, using responsibly raised and locally grown products.

He currently resides with his family in Greenwich Village.