September 19, 2016:
BlueStar has always been the choice of America’s top chefs like Michael Symon for range tops and gas ovens in their home kitchens. These professional chefs are focused on bringing restaurant-quality performance to their home kitchens and choose BlueStar to bring the same level of fire power and overall consistency to their home cooking that they experience in their restaurants.
We are proud to announce that Chef Bobby Flay – well known as an accomplished restaurateur with restaurants like Bar Americain, cookbook author, and host of Beat Bobby Flay– is the most recent chef to choose a BlueStar Platinum Series gas range as well as Prizer Hood as the centerpiece for his new home kitchen. Flay outfitted his new Tribeca kitchen with 60″ Platinum Series range in stainless steel with antique brass trim and a 66″ Hampton style hood.
So why did Chef Flay choose BlueStar? “Fire power! I love the amount of BTUs. Plus the versatility of the burners is great, really high to really low. It’s as close to a professional range as I can get at home.”
“I also love that it fits my full size sheet pans from the restaurant,” says Flay. “And on top of all of that it looks good.”
Flay customized his BlueStar equipment to blend perfectly with the kitchens industrial design, which marries with the building itself. “This is a very old building and I wanted to maintain some of the industrial feel of it, the stainless with the antique brass trim did that. It also matched the custom light fixture over the island.”
Team BlueStar recently sat down with Chef Flay and learned more about his thoughts on great kitchen design, flawless entertaining and of course, what inspires him in the kitchen.
Flay says, “This is my first really large urban kitchen, and for sure the most thought out, flow was important.” He cautions that most people put too much space between their stove and the area where they prep. Never have to walk too far between where prep is done or a cutting board is used and the stove top, it forces home chefs to unnecessarily carry ingredients.”
Besides great appliances like BlueStar, lots of landing spaces are essential for a well-functioning kitchen. “You need enough countertop space to be able to move from where you are prepping, to next to the stove and then back off the stove,” says Flay. He also considers his island an indispensable part of his kitchen. It multi-use, allowing for expanded prep space, serving area or additional seating if needed.
What Goes Into Hosting the Perfect Dinner Party?
Anyone who entertains knows that a lot of prep goes into hosting a dinner party, Chef Bobby Flay is no exception. Here are a couple rules that he tries to stick to. First, limiting the size of your guest list is key. Chef Flay feels that the perfect dinner party has between 6 – 18 people. Secondly, he anchors his menu around a theme. “When I entertain I always start with a theme, it helps me focus on what to make. For example, I’m thinking about making paella then I will compliment it with sangria as a signature cocktail.” Finally, for the freshest ingredients, he suggests getting to know your local fishmonger and butcher. “Create a relationship with them, it will be invaluable in steering you in the right direction on what to buy and cook,” says Chef Flay.
Finding Inspiration in the Kitchen
What inspires a chef like Bobby Flay in the kitchen? “I love my spice rack, I had it custom made,” he says. Spices are typically hidden away in cabinets or pantries. Chef Flay wanted his spices to be very visible, so he had this custom spice rack designed for the counter. “Being able to see them while I cook inspires me to season differently,” states Flay.
When the country’s best chefs cook and entertain at home, we are proud they choose BlueStar for their kitchens, for the power and performance that mimics their restaurants. No matter if you are an Iron Chef or a home chef, BlueStar has a gas range, wall oven, or hood for you. Start building your dream BlueStar range now at our interactive Build Your Own tool now.
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