Bobby Flay

Bobby Flay is a chef, restaurateur and television personality known for his frequent appearances on Food Network, where he first gained fame as one of the original competitors on Iron Chef America. Partnered with the network since 1996, Flay has hosted numerous shows, including Hot Off the Grill, Boy Meets Grill, Bobby Flay’s Barbecue Addiction, Brunch @ Bobby’s and Iron Chef.

At 17, Flay dropped out of school and began working at Joe Allen, a popular New York City restaurant where his father was a part-owner. Recognizing Flay’s talent, his boss sent him to the nearby French Culinary Institute.

Flay then worked under renowned restaurateurs and opened his first restaurant, Mesa Grill, in 1991. He expanded his restaurant empire with Mesa Grill locations in Las Vegas (2002) and Nassau, Bahamas (2007), and later launched Bar Americain and Bobby’s Burger Palace franchise.

Flay was married to chef Debbie Ponzek from 1991 to 1993. In 1992, both were nominated for the James Beard Award for Rising Star; Flay attempted to withdraw his nomination but was refused and won the following year. He married Kate Connelly in 1995, and they welcomed their daughter, Sophie, in 1996 before separating in 1998. Flay’s third marriage, to actress Stephanie March, began in February 2005 and ended in divorce in 2015 amid allegations of infidelity. He began dating writer Christina Pérez in November 2021, and after three years together, the couple ended things in June 2024.

In March 2025, Us Weekly confirmed that Flay was dating fellow Food Network star Brooke Williamson.