If you’re a chef entering a cooking stadium, is there any greater feeling than when you Beat Bobby Flay? It’s not an easy task. After more than 400 episodes, the chef’s win record is an impressive 62 per cent, proving he’s got culinary prowess across a variety of cuisines and dishes.
But no one is perfect, and even Bobby Flay has his weaknesses. Over the years, there are certain dishes that have done him in, bolstering his competitors to the big W. So if you’re thinking of taking on this cooking mastermind, maybe ditch the barbecue and opt for one of these dishes instead.
While plotting your next recipe, tune into Bobby’s Triple Threat on Food Network Canada. Stream Live or On-Demand with STACKTV. Try it free today!
Baking
Flay has said himself that when it comes to any dish with a combination of butter, sugar, flour, and eggs, he might as well take himself out of the running. Many chefs aren’t into baked goods, but Flay, in particular, has a hard time with them. His layered cakes always come out rustic, for example, and he’s been beaten with all kinds of desert-like dishes over the years, from baklava and carrot cake to soufflé and tiramisu.
Related: What Beats Bobby Flay? 5 Dishes That Cost Him the Win
Empanadas
Flay doesn’t mess around when it comes to international cuisine and is even known for his first signature dish, a shrimp and roasted garlic tamale. But when it comes to crafting these flaky turnovers, Flay has had a historically hard time winning. In Season 8, he lost a beef empanada challenge to Aaron Rivera; in Season 19, Chad Clevenger’s empanada bested the chef; and in Season 22, Rosana Rivera proved her empanada is also better than Flay’s.
Related: Which Dish That Has Beat Bobby Flay Should You Make for Dinner Tonight?
Brunch
Breakfast may be the most important meal of the day, but it’s one that can trip Bobby Flay up in the kitchen. Over the years, competitors have taken home the win by challenging Flay to breakfast and brunch-inspired fare like steak and eggs, eggs benedict, dutch baby pancakes, and huevos rancheros. So if you want to best Bobby, maybe start practicing those egg-cellent basics.
Chicken
Many chefs say that perfecting a roast chicken is a sign of a true cook. Flay may have that skill down pat, but there are a surprising number of other chicken dishes that he has lost on Beat Bobby Flay over the years. Chicken parm, fried chicken sandwiches, jerk chicken, chicken and dumplings, chicken pho, and even chicken cordon bleu have been his downfall, leading us to believe he may prefer steak or pork when it comes to proteins.
Related: Bobby Flay’s Beer Can Chicken
Soup
In over 400 episodes, there have been 10 contestants who challenged Flay to make a soup. As it turns out, quick soup is one of Flay’s biggest weaknesses. Of those 10 instances, he only won three times, giving him a 30 per cent success rate. While Flay failed at dishes like wonton soup, matzo ball soup, hot and sour soup, French onion soup, and good old fashioned chicken noodle, he did win in his corn soup, tortilla soup, and egg drop soup competitions.