I’m not a fan of Bobby Flay, but I know a lot of folks are. This one’s for you.
NYRA announced today that celebrity chef and horse owner Bobby Flay will be signing copies of his recent book “Burgers, Fries and Shakes” at the Saratoga Race Course’s NYRA Store from noon-2 p.m. on Sunday, August 9.
A limited number of books will be available for purchase at the NYRA Store, or guests may bring their own copies of Flay’s other cookbooks for signature. Only one book will be signed per customer and no other items will be signed.
Why here? Flay, who first came to the races at Belmont Park as a boy in the company of his grandfather, has long been a fan of the sport, and has owned and raced horses in New York State for several years. As a matter of fact, Flay loves the sport so much that during Sunday’s Finney Stakes he’ll be calling the race himself. Move over Jim Tom Durkin? (sorry – Jim Durkin was a friend of my uncle’s. Thanks to one of my loyal readers for pointing that out!!)
Personally, I don’t get the Bobby Flay thing (he seems awful arrogant to me), but his fans are indeed legion. Flay did a “Fried Chicken” episode of “Throwdown” at the flat track a couple years back, competing against Jasper Alexander, owner/chef at Hattie’s in Saratoga Springs. Flay lost – because Hattie’s fried chicken is INCREDIBLE. And – my neighbor Chef Mark was in that episode, too (he’s a friend of Jasper’s ).
Would you call that three degrees of Bobby Flay?
Life at Goal 
I didn’t think Chef Mark could be any cooler and, well, he is.
The problem with Bobby Flay is that fame has gone to his head. He seems to think that he is magical and can do anything–anywhere. Cooking on radio was just so stupid. And to be a source of useable advice to the men of this world is beyond belief!
I think he is fabulous as a chef and less fabulous as a network personality these days. His TV shows used to be the teaching place to be. Now it is a frustrating videography game.
I wish he would stick to what he does well and let the experts do what they do well.