Bobby Flay Says Filming With Giada De Laurentiis in Italy Was Like Being on an ‘Extended Vacation’
Chefs Bobby Flay and Giada De Laurentiis are teaming up once again for a brand new show on Discovery +, and Flay had some very interesting things to say about his co-star and their time together in Italy.
Bobby Flay and Giada De Laurentiis were once embroiled in a major feud
Though they’ve been close for years, back in 2006, the chefs were embroiled in a major feud. They were paired together on Iron Chef America against Rachael Ray and Mario Batali, and they lost. De Laurentiis was displeased that Flay did not take the loss seriously.
“We lost and he thought it was funny,” she explained the Beyond the Plate podcast via People. “He didn’t think it was any big deal that we lost. I did not talk to him for eight months‚ eight months! I did not. Nothing. Silence. It was just TV [to him]. I took it very seriously. I think Rachael took it very seriously, and I was really disappointed.” Rumors of a possible affair between the pair could have also caused some tension between them.
There have been rumors about a possible romantic affair between Giada De Laurentiis and Bobby Flay
In 2014, De Laurentiis filed for divorce from her then-husband, Todd Thompson, after 11 years of marriage. E! News reports that Star magazine printed a story claiming De Laurentiis was involved with Flay romantically. The chef responded to the rumors by saying, “My long-time friendships with my co-workers … are exactly that — long-time friendships. There has never been a romantic relationship.”
However, the reports stuck since the night before De Laurentiis announced her divorce, she was spotted partying with Flay at Cecconi’s at Soho Beach House Miami and was in “good spirits.”
The pair have continued to deny having anything more than a friendship.
Bobby Flay says working with Giada De Laurentiis in Italy was like being on an extended vacation
These days, Flay and De Laurentiis are best friends, and they often engage in playful banter with one another on their respective Instagram accounts. “I think that Bobby is one of those people that if you are his friend, he has your back forever, and he will stand up for you,” De Laurentiis said. “He’s one of those guys you can call in a pinch, and he will get you out of it. He’s special in that sense.”
Now, we’re about to see a lot more of their friendship on the small-screen. The chefs are starring in a new Discovery + series, titled Bobby and Giada In Italy. The series was shot pre-pandemic and followed the duo exploring Italy and meeting up with new friends. Flay described it as his dream job.
“It’s almost like we were on some sort of extended vacation, but we’re also working at the same time,” he explained to Delish. “We were just in a great mood the entire time. We got along great. We always have a great time together. I love Giada in Italy—like the person, not just the show—because she’s so relaxed there. And I feel the same way.”
