Is Beat Bobby Flay Rigged? Kitchen Secrets Revealed

Source: Food Network

The aim of the show is pretty simple, two chefs go head-to-head for a chance to compete against the restauranteur. In the final round chooses the signature dish for himself and Bobby to make, and it's up to the judges to see if anyone could beat Flay. Sounds interesting, right? Well, it would be more interesting to watch. if Bobby didn't win pretty much 90% of the time.

We understand that it’s Bobby’s show and it would not look really good if he lost the majority of the time.  But it just seems like he’s always winning which leads us to ask many questions, and the biggest one: Is Beat Bobby Flay possibly fixed?

Did Bobby Flay just Steal the Win?

To find out the truth, let’s take a look at both sides of this mysterious kitchen. In December 2018, one Reddit user asked the exact same question that we have here, because, like us, they couldn’t fully wrap their head around the idea that the show doesn't lean in Bobby Flay’s favor. 

User @onamonapizza stated, “I know that Bobby Flay is a world-renowned cook, an Iron Chef, and one of the faces of Food Network. Still, I feel like the judging or scoring on Beat Bobby Flay is skewed. Bobby wins like 90% of the time, and while I believe that Bobby has the experience and resume to cook just about anything well, I find it hard to believe that he can universally cook dishes that at least two out of three judges will prefer in a "blind tasting."

They also added some additional thoughts they had on why the show could lean toward the Food Network star and honestly, they’re pretty logical: 

• Despite a few certain episodes where the competitor's dishes look significantly better than Bobby's and with better critique from the judges, somehow the host is still victorious.
• Although Bobby supposedly has no idea what dish he will make in round two, somehow he always has every ingredient needed to make the dish.
• Nine out of ten times, it's Bobby's dish that goes first in the blind tasting.
• It's tough to tell whether the judges' critiques about the food are true because the show gets edited for TV.

And the other side? 

It was what people like us have to say about Beat Bobby Flay’s show. But of course, there’s another side to it and it's comprised of folks who are on the inside cooking competition show. 

In a shocking twist, Food Network star Justin Warner, a judge on shows like Beat Bobby Flay, added his thoughts to the rigging rumors. Though we can't confirm if it's truly him, Warner (reportedly as @eatfellowhumans) commented on a 2018 Reddit thread saying the show is "definitely not rigged." 

He's been on both sides, competing and co-hosting, so he knows the deal. He explained that the crew makes sure Bobby has his favorite ingredients ready, and more importantly, Bobby doesn't know what dish he'll cook in round two or what the other chefs made in round one!

But, the most truthful answer comes from the Food Network star himself, who gave Drew Barrymore his thoughts on competing on The Drew Barrymore Show during an October 2021 appearance. Bobby said to the host  "I lose plenty.” "A lot of times, people will come up to me on the street and be like, 'You know I watch Beat Bobby Flay,  you never lose.' And I'm like, 'You don't watch enough, because I lose a lot ... It's like 60%, 70%.'"

He also revealed that he doesn’t mind when the vote doesn’t go in his favor.  "I mean this wholeheartedly, I actually love [when I lose] because I created this show for two reasons: to hang out with friends and to cook," Bobby continued. "Those are the two things I love to do most. Everything else happens around me. I created it because I wanted to create a stage for other chefs around the country who might not get that opportunity all the time."

So here you the answer! But, are you really convinced by Bobby's words, or still have some thoughts in mind? Feel free to comment down below!

Frequently Asked Questions 

Q. How much does Bobby Flay make per episode?

It’s hard to tell the exact Bobby Flay’s per episode salary, as salary details for celebrity chefs are mostly confidential. However, according to available information, a safe estimate for Bobby Flay’s per episode salary could be between $80,000 and $100,000.

Q. What city is Bobby Flay in?

It’s a bit difficult to tell what city is Bobby Flay in as depending on his schedule and commitments he travels frequently. However, as per the sources he spends most of his time in New York, Upstate New York, and Los Angeles.

Q. Where was Bobby Flay trained?

Bobby Flay quickly proved his raw talent and so his boss sent him to New York’s French Culinary Institute, now the International Culinary Center for training. There he won an Outstanding Graduate Award.

Q. Is Bobby Flay still filming?

Yes, as of 2023, Bobby Flay is still filming. While speaking with PEOPLE at the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen, Flay said he is “here to stay” with the network that helped build his stardom. He has also signed a three-year contract extension in November 2021 with Food Network which confirms that he’s still working. 

Q. Where is Beat Bobby Flay filmed? 

The show actually shifted filming locations throughout its run but mostly Beat Bobby Flay was filmed in New York. 

Q.  How many people have beaten Bobby Flay? 

Throughout the various seasons of Beat Bobby Flay, several talented chefs have beaten Bobby Flay. According to Wikipedia, through 441 competitions, Bobby Flay’s win-loss record is 272–169 with a 61.7% win percentage.