Since 1996 he has published the on-line weeklyMariani’s Virtual Gourmet Newsletter[16][17] and is host of the weekly radio interview show “Almost Golden” onWVOX 1460AM.[18]
He is the author of multiple food-based books. His first book,The Dictionary of American Food &Drink, was called "groundbreaking"[19] as it was the "first book to chronicle [American] cuisine". The food writer Nika Hazelton compared it to France's La Gastromique[20]. It was re-published in 2013 asThe Encyclopedia of American Food & Drink[21]
He went on to write more books includingEating Out: Fearless Dining in Ethnic Restaurants[22], America Eats Out[23]which examined America's eateries such as Pizzerias and the advent of theSubmarine Sandwich, andMariani's Coast-to-Coast Dining Guide in which he "conscripted regional food critics to write chapters relative to their part of the country"[24].Kirkus Reviews suggested it should become "a part of every businessman's or vacationer's travel pack".[25]
He co-authored annual editions ofPassport to New York Restaurants and was editor ofItalian Cuisine: Basic Cooking Techniques. How Italian Food Conquered the World was published in 2011.[26][27][28]
He also co-wroteThe Italian American Cookbook with his wife Galina[29]
Over his career, Mariani has been nominated for and received journalism, food and cultural awards including theJames Beard Journalism Award (nominated in 1985, 1998 and 1999).[30] He was named as Cook's Magazine and Restaurant Business Magazine Who's Who of the Year in 1985.[31] In 2003, he was awarded thePhiladelphia Toque Award “for exceptional achievements in culinary writing and accomplishments”.[32]
His books have been recognised with awards including the Gourmand World Cookbooks Award for the USA 2011[33] and theItalian Cuisine Worldwide Award 2012 forHow Italian Food Conquered the World[34]
In 2011, Mariani received the GEI (Gruppo Esponenti Italiani) Friendship Award.[35] The following year, theASME award was awarded toSaveur Magazine for its “Italian-American” issue for which Mariani wrote the lead article[36][37]
In 2016,The Italian Food & Wine Institute recognised Mariani for his contribution to Italian wines throughout the world[38] and the American Society of the Italian Legions of Merit awarded him with the Grand Award of Merit "in recognition of his great accomplishments, exceptional leadership and pursuit of Italian excellence" in 2017[39]
