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I love that article. The rhetorical license on that one was great.
I don't hate Bobby. He is rock and roll around here.
Not everyone is loved for what they do. Shocking I know. I also loved when he jumped on the cutting board.

I'm missing it, too. As far as that incident, I chalk it up to the fact that he was young, inexperienced as far as TV, nervous, overexcited about the battle, clueless about the meaning that had in Japanese culture (he was probably clued in on common things, but leaping up on the countertop in a fit of joy probably wasn't expected), and overreacting. The way I saw it, he was relieved he finished the match and he was just being spontaneously happy and stupid. He made a mistake that would have been easily excused if he did it in the US in competition with another US chef. Morimoto forgave him a long time ago; I think it's time for people to use that incident as the single most important thing he's done as far as revealing his personality.

Some people also object to Throwdown because he challenges other chefs or cooks. However, the challenge is the premise of the show, it's not his personal attempt at obliterating all other cooks in battles to the death. And he usually loses the throwdowns, and I think that's what he tries for -- a good, new recipe that won't fit the judging criteria, so he can lose the battle. When he does win, he makes it a point to say that the other person is great, it was a whim of the judges, etc. He doesn't gloat when he wins, and when he loses, he's just as ready to say nice things about his competitor.

As a female, I've got to say that there's something appealing about Flay in terms of his "boyish charm" and the fact that he often seems a bit embarrassed and a teeny bit unsure of himself. Fer cripes sakes, I've seen him blush more than once on different shows. That's not cocky, it's cute, if you like that sort of personality. Maybe guys pick up on the fact that some women find his type to be appealing and instinctively want to trash the guy.

I think that if you looked into it, it's guys who are saying he's too arrogant and cocky with little comment about his cooking, where women will either like him because of his personality or will make their comments based on his cooking.

I've only seen him on a few shows here and there but I must say something about him reeks of douche. I have no justification for this opinion. Don't ask.

I don't hate him because he jumped on the counter, I hate him because he's a one-trick-pony. He grills. I get it. Overall, I just don't like his personality. That said, I DO enjoy the softer side of him in the Throwdown series, I really believe he wants the best for the people that he is going up against. He almost seems disappointed when he wins.

I know! He always seems to root for the other guy.

I don't like the deceit. Generally the false premise that the Throwdown is based on is like the biggest thing ever to happen to the poor schlob who thinks they will have their day of glory on the food network, and then in comes Bobby to steal that promised glory away and make it all about HIS show.

Sorry - I've spent most of my life being a poor schlob, and Bobby seems too much like the Beautiful People that use poor schlobs.

@BITTER - you have a good point I often think of around SE. There is a generalized hated of *most* things FN. Sometimes I understand and appreciate the comments and other times, not so much. I sometimes back off from SE for exactly that reason. While everything on FN isn't always top notch I would wager that if they didn't have a diversity of cooks and ideas they wouldn't be on. Great comments. It's a good topic.

I like him a lot more than I used to. My dislike of him was very strong when he first started on the food network scene, he was the stereotypical New Yorker to me, arrogant, asshole, everything about him screamed "I am a douche clown". I remember his treatment of Jackie Malouf and that made me dislike him more.

But I've warmed up to him, I've seen a bit of a douche change in him, not totally, he's still a douche, but less of the douche clown than before, maybe his wife softened him a little?

and I think those Throwdown shows are completely known by the challengers, I don't believe they are actually surprised by his showing up, I think they're just instructed to act like it, IMHO. But have a hard time watching those due to the overwhelming arrogance of who he's challenging, it completely turns me off sometimes. It pleases me when he wins, especially if the challengers are overly arrogant about their dish. The one that I absolutely can not watch again, or anything that uses her in it, is the Mac & Cheese lady, whatever her name is, I'd like to shove her head in a hot pan of her mac.

I dont use many of his recipes but all in all I love Bobby Flay. the cutting board incident was a long time ago and from what I've seen, he had an abysmial day. cutting himself, standing almost ankle deep in water and having to use not so good electrical equipment at the same time. He is very sweet in the throwdown stuff, he doesnt talk down to his "opponents" and he gives them alot of respect, while still usually throwing the game without seeming to.

I like the Bobby Flay Persona. I loved it when he jumped up on his cutting board the first time, and when he flung it aside and jumped on the counter the second time. I don't love it because I think he was being cocky. I dislike cocky people. I loved it because I thought Bobby showed passion for what he had done, and continues to show passion for what he still does. Bobby is a successful Chef and Brand, which you wouldn't get from being a bubbly, giggling idiot.... oh hell, ok RR and oh yes sandra lee....what was I saying?.... Anyways, getting back to Bobby, he is focused and confident...If he comes across as a little cocky, I'd say he's earned it. There are worse people with food shows and let's face it...we're talking about the FN.

Bobby Flay, the Neelys, Shamdra, Retchel, Paula Deen, Guy Fieri, Giada, Alton, Ina.......

You can like some of these folks all of the time, all of these folks some of the time, but you will never like all of these folks all of the time. Well, except Shamdra. I don't think I could even begin to like her.

I happen to love Bobby Flay! He ROCKS!!

I'm so relieved I'm not the only one that feels that way about Throwdown. I feel so badly for all those folks.........

I wouldn't kick him out of the sack. ;-O

i met ming bout 3 years ago. he was opening his restaurant the blue oyster and he was standing outside the boston train station handing out cookies. he's very approachable and handsome.

I just thought Iron Chef was being Iron Chef with that episode. It didn't bother me whatsoever but IronChef milked it for dramatic effect and everyone ate it up.

I don't like Flay because he is an invention and self-absorbed. He is an entertainer with good business sense. He doesn't -get- food. You see someone like Mario Batali or Bordain talk about food and you get a real sense of love and where they are coming from. In every interview with Flay you just get an arrogant ass.

But a lot of people on this board don't care about that - they care about the entertainment and the drama. Good luck with that...

I'll say this much.... the Bobby Flay grilling with other people show whatever that is.... It's almost like the camera can't wait to pan off the guest who is grilling to get Bobby's reaction. I mean why even give the poor person a mic.

I can't stand Bobby Flay. It's his face.... he's always smirking like a jerk and he just comes across as cocky and condescending. And I agree about Throwdown. The premise is mean. "Hey! I'm going to swoop in and challenge what you take pride in, in front of everyone in your community!" And he goes off and like marinades, and braises specialty meats for like hours and beats the hard working mom and pops store sthat can't afford to braise their dishes for hours at a time. I don't likes.

I LOVE Bobby Flay. I use all of his cookbooks frequently for parties. I think it's the cockiness or arrogance the we girls find so appealing.
Iz could ya PLEASE kick him out for 1/2 an hour for god's sake? I need a turn.

Bobby Flay is your standard issue ass-wagging little jerk who'll do anything for attention..

Now on the other hand, Morimoto, when he lost... he CRIED!!!

yes it's his cockiness and the arrogance that makes me wanna watch him cook. i always wanna taste his dishes.

i forgot about the swagger. i like the way he uses his tongs.

is it him or tyler that goes to your home and shows you how to cook some dish?

Flay can seriously cook. Honestly, anyone who can't see that simply isn't paying attention or doesn't know what they're watching. He's gifted with sauces. He doesn't just grill everything though he clearly likes getting some smoke and char into his food. He's got a thorough understanding of American food both of the South and the Southwest.

I'm not arguing anyone need like his personality though I don't have any issue with it myself. Whether one thinks his TV shows are any good is also an entirely personal thing. Whether you like the sorts of food he makes, also a personal question. People like different things. But he's talented, of that there's no question.

I used to be on the Flay Hate bandwagon, but recently my attitude towards him has softened for various reasons. But I know why it started and it was long before his cutting board jump.

His first program, "Grillin and Chillin" seemed to be nothing but him being a New York jerkwad condescending to the poor misguided Southern boy in his overalls. It infuriated me especially because the other guy cooked food that I would love to eat and want to cook. Whereas Bobby cooked a lot of stuff that I wouldn't put in my mouth.

Then came the whole Iron Chef incident and it only exacerbated my perception that he utterly lacked respect for other chefs. Then I saw his "Chefography" and it talked about how it was FN that wanted to play up the North vs South thing and how he really respected the other chef, it went a long way to changing my mind.

Then I read about the Throwdown thing and how the whole thing was his idea and how he wanted to use his position on FN to provide these little known but talented chefs with exposure. I had always thought Throwdown was a cruel joke - but understanding it more really changed my mind. Now I do not have so much hate. I still would not eat the vast majority of his food and think he is pretty much a one trick pony, but no longer think he is the Anti-Mario.

I agree that he just comes off as a douche. Cocky and arrogant. Sure, he can obviously cook, but I agree that he does seem to be a one-trick pony.
I met him too and he was similar to his television personality- standoffish and generally acting as if he were too good.

Austin loves Bobby Flay (or at least the people here that I know).

I he comes across as cocky, or arrogant, but I think he is a good cook (then why don't I EVER make any of his recipes??).
His NYC restaurants are AWFUL, bad service and geared towards the tourist crowd.
I don't hate him at all, I like that he is good at promoting himself.

Now, Rachael Ray and Sandra Lee are another story.
Stacey Snacks

For anyone who has actually *worked* in a restaurant, they know that kitchen staff are not the nicest people in the world. The profession at all levels tends to encourage brutish personalities in the workplace, but especially at the supervisor or chef level. Things that would get you fired instantly anywhere else, like nightly profanity-laced tirades, are business as usual for the kitchen staff.

So I think the Bobby Flay hate either comes from people who've never worked in a restaurant and therefore aren't accustomed to the brutish personality type, or people who have worked in a restaurant, see the shades of douchebaggery Bobby Flay tries to repress, and resent him greatly for it.

Yeah, I don't get it either. He seems like the "All-American" guy and have you ever seen him around his beautiful wife? He ADORES her!

Oh, I forgot that he can cook also.......

PLUS he LOVES his mother-in-law. Now come on.....

Throwdown is a completely pretentious, ego stroking concept. Break it down to the following:
- The FN cons people into preparing their staple dish under false pretenses of a special show.
- Flay than spends an afternoon making his version of the dish.
- Flay ambushes the individuals on a show they were deceived about doing and issues the throwdown.

This is so egotistical because he puts himself in a win/win situation. If he loses, he was competing against a lifetime of single dish experience. If he wins, he practically invalidates a lifetime of experience with an attitude of 'can't be too hard, i cooked that up in one afternoon'.

Either way, it's cocky and degrading to the person who is ambushed.

Oh, and Bar American is a terrible restaurant... And so there's not too much hate, Mesa Grill is my favorite place for brunch and I used to frequent, but Throwdown turned me off to the douche bag.

@buffy ~ Good. I can have him all to myself now!!

Jamie Oliver is MY Take Home chef. I mean wait, what?

I'll think about it.

I don't know TEXIE, Tyler reminds me too much of my brother. :-O

Eeeeewww....
Sigh then I'll keep Tyler.
OH! What about Alton? He's cute in a nerdy, smart way...

What about Michael Chiarello?

@BITTER ~ I like Michael, but he is not a big presence. So I guess not. Poor Michael.....

@db ~ Where the hell did he come from!

@BITTER ~ Well now, Chi-Chi works for me. i am going to reconsider!

The fact that this post has generated so many strong opinions speaks for the fact that no one is turning Flay off when one of his shows airs. He's got the whole package: boyish charm, restaurenteur, a dose of cockiness (look at Top Chef for REAL cocky), humble when he needs to be (which is scripted by FNTV on Throwdown). He has a beautiful wife/ actress who he rarely trots out for ratings, just to make him more like a real person. Apparently his restaurants are successful. I don't re-create his recipes, but I absolutely have learned about chilis, peppers and their integration into our everyday cuisine.

Michael Chiarello featured his wife and family on several shows. He created an anniversary dinner for his wife which they shared on camera. He did a bake sale for charity with his daughter, and filmed the whole thing. I miss old Food Network, but I love Bravo and Fine Living.