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Chef Bobby Flay, beloved by fans for his culinary expertise, has kept a low profile regarding his love life since his third divorce. Why does it matter? In a world where conventionally attractive male chefs are rare, Flay stands out.
While celebrity chefs like Guy Fieri and Gordon Ramsay have their charm, Flay’s appeal lies in his everyman looks, his red hair, thick New York accent, and heartthrob smile. So, when he appeared at the 2021 Breeders’ Cup with a stunning new girlfriend, the culinary world buzzed with curiosity. The mystery woman turned out to be Christina Pérez, a 43-year-old writer and editor with an impressive background.
Pérez, originally from the Midwest, studied fashion design at the Fashion Institute of Technology and liberal arts at The New School. She carved out a niche in lifestyle and travel writing, contributing to prestigious publications like Vogue, GQ, Condé Nast Traveler, Elle, and Harper’s Bazaar. She has also held editorial roles at Glamour, Lucky, and PopSugar.
Currently, Pérez focuses on the intersection of travel, design, style, food, well-being, and intentional living through her freelance work and her lifestyle newsletter, “A Friend Indeed.” Her Instagram showcases her travels to dreamy locations like Italy, the Maldives, and Barbados. She also spent two years as Senior Content and Creative Director for the cannabis brand Miss Grass.
Pérez’s adventurous and health-conscious lifestyle has influenced Flay to incorporate more vegetarian dishes into his cooking, moving away from his typical meat-heavy repertoire. Flay has openly praised her impeccable style, noting her impact on his menu concepts and restaurant decor.
Flay, who has been married three times, seems to have found his perfect match in Pérez. His first marriage was to fellow chef Debra Ponzek in the early 90s, followed by a marriage to Kate Connelly, with whom he shares an adult daughter, Sophie. His most publicized marriage was to actress Stephanie March, which ended in a messy split in 2015.
Despite his past, Flay appears smitten with Pérez. “She’s so lovely. I’m really happy to have met her. My life is so crazy hectic, and she’s always the light at the end of the day for me,” Flay shared. The couple enjoys a jet-setting lifestyle, splitting their time between glamorous destinations like Italy’s Amalfi Coast and London, and hosting elegant dinner parties at home.
As for wedding bells, Flay jokes, “I’ve done it a lot. I’ve practiced that a lot. For now, I like it exactly the way it is.” It seems Flay is content with his current relationship status. This modern love story between a celebrity chef and a lifestyle influencer is one for the Instagram age, and fans are eager to see what’s next for Bobby and Christina.