Show Notes
We are back for Part 3 of the Carson Kressley mini-series! This time, we are trading the design studio for the kitchen, recording live from the set of Beat Bobby Flay in New York City. Carson sits down with his good friend, the Iron Chef himself, Mr. Bobby Flay.
Bobby turns the tables and lets Carson do the baking (featuring his famous Amish-adjacent Pennsylvania Dutch custard pies!), while the two discuss the undeniable link between hospitality, food, and interior design. Bobby breaks down the psychological trick of the "Orange Glow" in his restaurants, how he works with his interior designer Olivia Jane, and the layout secrets of his personal home kitchens in New York, the Hamptons, and London.
Quick Decorating Takeaways:
Flatter Your Guests with Lighting: Bobby insists that lighting is the unsung hero of a successful restaurant or dinner party. He aims to create an "Orange Glow" in his spaces to ensure that everybody feels like they look good while dining—if they feel good about how they look, they’ll have a better time.
Design for You, Not for Resale: Bobby strongly advises against designing your home based on what a hypothetical future buyer might want. Instead of living in a safe, generic space for "resale value," you should design your home for the way you want to live in it right now.
The Best Way to Serve a Crowd: When entertaining at home, Bobby rarely does plated dinners. He prefers a "family style" approach because it feels comforting and allows guests to take exactly what they want. His top entertaining essential? A collection of really cool trays to easily carry food and drinks around the room.
What You’ll Hear on This Episode:
00:00 Welcome to Week 3 of the Carson Kressley Takeover!
01:00 Live from the set: Carson bakes for an Iron Chef
03:00 Why interior design is just as important as the menu
04:30 The secret to the "Orange Glow" lighting
07:00 Bobby’s partnership with his interior designer, Olivia Jane
09:00 Why Bobby loves shopping for vintage furniture on 1stDibs
16:30 How a chef designs his own kitchens: 18-foot islands & Hamptons bistro tables
19:30 Why you shouldn't design a house just for "resale value"
20:40 Entertaining tips: Trays and family-style meals
22:00 Designing his 1920s Tudor house in Saratoga and his London apartment
27:00 Bobby & Carson’s London restaurant and hotel recommendations
29:20 The pie reveal: Strawberry and Raspberry custard
32:00 Sneak peek at next week’s guest: Pat Altschul
Also Mentioned:
Bobby's Podcast: Bobby on the Beat
London Spots: Berenjak, Scott's, Brat, The Broadwick Soho hotel
Bobby's Restaurants: Amalfi, Brasserie B, Bobby's Burgers
Vintage Shopping: 1stDibs
Shop the Carson Kressley Collection at Ballard Designs
Please send in your questions so we can answer them on our next episode! And of course, subscribe to the podcast in Apple Podcasts so you never miss an episode. You can always check back here to see new episodes, but if you subscribe, it’ll automatically download to your phone.
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