The Real Cause Of Bobby Flay And Giada De Laurentiis' Feud

Food Network's Bobby Flay and Giada De Laurentiis might be two of the most well-known celebrity chefs, but for a period of time, they really didn't like each other. Let's rewind to 2006 when De Laurentiis and Flay were paired up for Iron Chef America against chefs Mario Batali and Rachael Ray. Despite all the talent and power Flay and De Laurentiis had on their side, they ended up losing the match-up, but that's not what bothered De Laurentiis so much. It was Flay's blasé attitude about the whole thing.

"We lost and he thought it was funny," De Laurentiis said on the Beyond the Plate podcast in 2018 (via People). "He didn't think it was any big deal that we lost. I did not talk to him for eight months, eight months! I did not. Nothing. Silence."

She explained the experience of cooking together further and mentioned how much work she put into the show, only to feel like Flay hadn't done the same. "I thought, you know, I took this very seriously. It was a very big show, especially at that time, and I've cooked, I've gone to culinary school, I worked on my own dish all by myself and I felt like he sort of half-assed it," De Laurentiis said. "It was just TV [to him]. I took it very seriously. I think Rachael took it very seriously, and I was really disappointed." Sick burn!

So, what's happened between the food-loving pair since then?

Giada De Laurentiis and Bobby Flay worked out their issues after De Laurentiis moved past her anger over Iron Chef America. Since that 2006 debacle, the two have become good friends, even working together on several seasons of Food Network Star, mentoring chefs and judging dishes.

Though Flay has a bit of a troublesome reputation — he's made a few people mad over the years — he and De Laurentiis are all good now. De Laurentiis and Flay crossed paths at numerous celebrity chef events, and De Laurentiis has nothing but nice things to say about her fellow chef. The Italy-born cook told the Beyond the Plate podcast in 2018 (via People), "I think that Bobby is one of those people that if you are his friend, he has your back forever and he will stand up for you. He's one of those guys you can call in a pinch and he will get you out of it. He's special in that sense."

These two Food Network regulars also may or may not be cooking up a new project. Delish noted that in September 2019, both chefs were on a trip to Rome together, alluding to a new project — De Laurentiis even snapped an Instagram for Flay! Early 2020's COVID-19 pandemic most likely slowed down whatever they were working on, but we're still hoping to get a new show from them sometime soon.