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Bobby FlayAmerican chef and television host
Date of Birth: 10.12.1964
Country:  USA |
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American Chef and Television Host Bobby Flay
Robert William "Bobby" Flay is an American chef and television host who currently leads the ratings of restaurants in the United States and is highly respected worldwide. As a renowned chef, popular TV personality, and owner of restaurants in Las Vegas, the Bahamas, New York, and many other states, Bobby Flay has reached the pinnacle of his fame primarily due to his talent and hard work.
Early Life and Education
Bobby Flay, born on December 10, 1964, is the son of Bill and Dorothy Flay, descendants of fourth-generation Irish immigrants. The family resided in the prestigious Upper East Side neighborhood of Manhattan, New York. At the age of eight, Bobby amazed his father by asking for an automatic oven as a Christmas gift. Bill Flay, who expected a request for toy soldiers, gave his son both toys and the oven.
Although Bobby was not a diligent student, he found a job at a nearby pizzeria and later at Baskin-Robbins after being expelled from school at the age of 17. After a while, he began working at Joe Allen's restaurant in New York City's prestigious Theater District, co-owned by Bill Flay. It turned out that Bobby had an innate talent for cooking, and he soon became responsible for preparing salads. Joe Allen eventually sent him to study at the recently opened French Culinary Institute in New York, now known as the International Culinary Center.
In 1984, Bobby Flay graduated with a Bachelor of Culinary Arts and began working as a sous chef at Brighton Grill on Third Avenue. After a week, the restaurant's head chef quit, and Flay took his place. However, he quickly realized that his knowledge and experience were not sufficient to manage a kitchen of that scale. Bobby then moved on to work with Jonathan Waxman, whose restaurant Bud and Jams specialized in Southwestern cuisine. Waxman taught the young chef the intricacies of Creole and Cajun dishes, which became Bobby Flay's main specialization. It was through Jonathan that Bobby finally understood the difference between good food and just food. During this time, Bobby constantly attended culinary courses and invented new recipes, enriching his professional repertoire.
Career and Personal Life
After gaining a wealth of culinary expertise, Bobby Flay briefly dabbled in stock trading before becoming the executive chef of Miracle Grill in the East Village in 1988. His knowledge of Creole cuisine was highly appreciated by restaurateur Jerome Kretchmer. In 1990, Bobby Flay became the kitchen manager of the newly opened Mesa Grill, and later became business partners with Kretchmer. This marked the beginning of Bobby Flay's own restaurant business and laid the foundation for his personal life. In 1991, Robert married his colleague Debra Ponzek, but their marriage ended in divorce. In 1993, he opened the restaurant and bar Bolo in the Flatiron District, just blocks away from Mesa Grill. By this time, his marriage with Debra had already dissolved, and his second wife became Kate Connelly. They divorced after a year, and their daughter Sophie was born in 1996.
In addition to his business ventures, Bobby Flay also shared his culinary expertise with others. In 1994, he published his first cookbook, "Simple American Cuisine." As of now, Bobby Flay has authored thirteen books, with his latest titled "Barbecue Addiction" released in 2013. During this time, he became a frequent guest on cooking shows and began teaching at the International Culinary Center, where he once studied.
In 2003, the Bobby Flay Scholarship was established, annually awarded to a student who wins the "Long-Island City" culinary mastery competition, one of the judges being the renowned restaurateur himself. In 2004, the second Mesa Grill restaurant was opened in Caesar's Palace, Las Vegas, followed by the creation of the Americain beer bar in the heart of Manhattan. Another successful establishment in Bobby Flay's restaurant network was Steak, which opened in the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City, New Jersey. In March 2007, the third Mesa Grill branch was opened in Paradise Bay, Bahamas. In 2008, this restaurant received a Michelin star, which was taken away a year later. However, the Bolo restaurant and bar had to be closed in 2008 to make room for condominiums. Half a year later, on Independence Day, Bobby Flay opened "Bobby's Burger Palace" in Lake Grove, New York. This choice of restaurant direction was inspired by his childhood memories associated with a burger shop. Another "Bobby's Burger Palace" opened in Eatontown six months later, and in March 2009, a branch was established in the main shopping center in Bergen, New Jersey. This restaurant chain became extremely popular, and as of now, there are eighteen branches throughout the United States.
Unfortunately, Bobby Flay's first successful business, Mesa Grill, was liquidated due to a rent increase. However, Bobby Flay's popularity is currently admired by many movie stars. Throughout his career, he has hosted thirteen cooking shows, eight of which are still ongoing. The famous restaurateur has made numerous appearances in movies and TV series, and even became a cartoon character in an episode of the renowned "South Park." However, his greatest recognition and honorary nomination as "Iron Chef" came from his participation in the cooking show Iron Chef America from 2000 to 2010. His battles with chef Morimoto, where the winner was determined by a one-point difference, became particularly famous.
Bobby Flay's radio programs, which he co-hosts with actress Stephanie March, whom he married in 2005, also enjoy popularity.
