Flak Magazine Letters
Letters for The Staggering Dicketry of Bobby Flay, 07.02.03
Alissa Rowinsky's essay on Food Network celebrity chef Bobby Flay struck a chord with readers, eliciting a tidal wave of mostly sympathetic mail. Here it is, as we received it. Send your letters to letters@flakmag.com.
07-05-03
You are *so* spot on. Every time Flay comes on I just want to punch him.
I think Jackie Malouf was chosen just to make him look smart by comparison. :)
(Just don't start picking on Alton Brown, now.)
Best regards,
Mark Shaw
"Sum id quod sum et id totum est quod sum"
07-01-03
Hey Alissa, your article about Flay was hilarious! That guy thinks he's the source. I was just explaining to my dad last week what a jerkhole he is, and how pompous he acts on his shows.
His abrasive, obnoxious, New York "I'm better than you" attitude is puke inducing (and that's BEFORE I knew about the Iron Chef incidents — sounds like he really stepped up and showed a lot of class there as well).
You hit the nail on the head in every respect.
Tony Longo
06-25-03
Good distillation of Flay's cooking shows. As a chef, I'm curious to know if you're aware of "dickery" as a general character trait among chefs increasing exponentially as one works their way up ranks of successful restaurants. I seriously believe Bobby shares this attribute with many other FN chefs such as Anthony Bordaine, Mario Batalia and especially Emeril Lagasse. Its just that they do a better job of hiding it.
Why? Because for the most part they are out of their element. Put them in THEIR restaurant and they become bossy, demanding, mean assholes. If you've seen the episode of two aspiring chefs bumbling around in Babbo's restaurant as they try amid the jeers and jabs of Batali and his underlings to reproduce dishes on Babbo's menu, you'll see exactly what I mean.
Have a great day and keep writing.
Tony Gill
06-25-03
Two questions, "Bobby has friends?" and "Does the Food Network pay them?"
I am just trying to find a gig and food lackey sounded interesting.
Rodney Fleisher
06-19-03
Of course you're right, but to that I say, what's your point? That's Flay's basic charm (such that it is), that he's an arrogant, extremely American asshole. The Food Channel needs such dicketry (is that a word), if only to give its programming some texture. I far prefer his kind of strutting bitchiness to Emeril and his group of high fat rowdies, who never saw a dish that couldn't be improved by tossing in another stick of butter or a cup of heavy cream, all orchestrated to the hoo-ya, fist-pumping chants of his studio audience. Anyway, enjoyed the article, thanks.
Mike Backus, NYC
06-19-03
Dear Alissa: That was a great article on Flay. I am active on the foodie site eGullet.com, and I posted a link to your article there. Take a look
Thanks.
Kathy Ramsey
06-19-03
Thank you for flaying Mr. Flay. I remember how, in his rematch vs. Morimoto, he won by basically just opening a bottle of his trademark spice blend and rubbing it on whatever the theme ingredient was. And they still gave it to him, just to keep up appearances. Maybe you can do the same to Nigella Lawson next?
Nick Sywak
06-19-03
Best article I have read all year!
You hit it on the head! Well for the exception of Rachel Ray. She is annoying with her YUMMMS and her thumbs up but she still is fun to watch and informative!
I am sure you would have liked to say in your article that BF is a MF but I know you can't print that. Just wanted you to know I printed the article and it will be displayed prominently on my fridge to read while I cook better than Bobby.
Peggy Truksis
06-19-03
I read your article on Bobby Flay and could not agree more. I am a regular watcher of Food TV and cannot beleive what a huge ass that guy is. A total fraud.
Jim
06-19-03
Alissa,
That was a phenomenal article, roasting him golden in the gonads. I met Bobby Flay when he came through Milwaukee shooting his FoodNation thingie at a friend's place. We brought all the beer and my husband was interviewed by Bobby on the show. We were all anticipating a fab, fun afternoon with the man, but we saw the food star only. Mugged for the camera, publicity shots, but other than that, cardboard the rest of the time. I thought he would have genuinely enjoyed the outdoor cue, but apparently it was a bit of a burden or letdown or both. You nailed it right, thank God for honest journalists that don't have to kiss ass to anyone!
May in Milwaukee
06-19-03
Kudos on a great article about Bobby Flay — I referenced it in my blog today. He is a total dick.
— Jenn
06-19-03
Dear Alissa,
A friend of mine just e-mailed me a copy of the article you wrote on Bobby Flay and all of his dicketry. Besides the fact that I love adding a new word to my vocabulary, I am writing to tell you how much I enjoyed the article and your writing style. It's uncanny how you have captured FoodTV. I have frequent conversations with a friend (the friend that sent me your article) about various programs. Whenever either one of us mentions Mr. Flay, the other will undoubtedly respond, "Bobby Flay is such a dick." Enough said.
The satisfaction that you have provided by siding with us is more valuable than saffron!
Regards,
D. Darlington, a new FAN!
06-18-03
Alissa, you pretty much told bobby flay to suck it.
Good call.
I think you touched a nerve with a lot of people who wanted to say the same things, but just didn't quite know how to say them without getting all choked up with feelings of nausea and disgust. Most people can only bring themselves to shout curse words when describing Mr. Flay.
Good article,
— Donnie Boman
06-18-03
Alissa —
I am not sure the last time I took a moment to write another author and tell them how much I liked what they wrote... But your article on Flay is fucking amazing. You've perfectly summarized his "dicketry" — what a word for it! — and I offer my congrats.
Cheers,
Ben
Ben French
http://www.nudeasthenews.com
http://www.measuremag.com
06-18-03
Oh, Alissa,
I just stumbled upon your writing on the personalitites of the Food TV — you were SO RIGHT!
I simply could not agree more with you — in fact, I stopped watching FoodTV long ago, because I cannot stand some of their "regulars". The good people are long gone. I don't know if you used to watch Taste by David Rosengarten, now THAT was a good show. Two Hot Tamales, another great learning experience....
But your assessment of Bobby Flay is simply PERFECT.
I do wish that the people making decisions on FoodTV would swallow your words, digest them properly, and DO SOMETHING TO IMPROVE THE CHANNEL!
Thanks a million!
Keep up your excellent work.
S
06-17-03
Thank you VERY much for exposing that snob who embodies everything I hate about New Yorkers. Only wish you hadn't stooped to kissing his butt in the last couple of paragraphs.
I'm inspired to write to the Food Network asking them to axe him now that I know I'm not the only person who's noticed his disrespect of true experts in their fields and his egomania.
Bravo!
Gloria Tate
