Why Bobby Flay Always Serves Family-Style Food When Cooking at Home

We’re all for making hosting tasks easier. Luckily, Bobby Flay leads by example. Whether you’re entertaining guests for a holiday meal or hosting a summer backyard party, Flay relies on a particular serving style to efficiently feed large groups: family-style menus.

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Serving food and letting guests enjoy it while you sit back and help yourself is the ultimate hosting trick. Family-style service puts the preferences in the guest’s hands, and chefs simply need to prepare dishes in advance for guests to choose from. This hosting approach requires prep work and cooking, so when the party is in full swing, it’s easy to join guests and enjoy the festivities without having to think about serving or moving plates.

“In the summer I try to make it as easy as possible for myself so that I can have fun sorting out the food but also make people happy. That’s why I always cook family style,” Flay tells our tasting table team. Not only do these types of presentations make for customizable meals, but the approach can also contribute to a more relaxed atmosphere. “And it’s really fun, it makes it really casual,” Flay explains.

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For the Tasting Table, Flay emphasizes the importance of variety and offers a few ideas for first-time hosts who want to serve a wider variety of food. “It’s really important that I do a few different things at the same time because not everyone eats the same thing or some people are vegetarian or allergic to this or that,” he shares. Flay suggests burger or taco bars where ingredients are on full display and people can prepare their own meals. In Flay’s book “Brunch @ Bobby’s,” Similarly, he brings family entertaining to the brunch table with approachable dishes that allow the chef or chefs to enjoy the gathering.

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Flay also uses family-style menus to feed family and friends. Regarding “Bon Appétit,” Flay explains: “At home, I always serve everything family-style. This means I can get to the table quicker and I don’t want to serve 12 dishes like I’m working in line at a restaurant.” I just love an abundance of things. Large plates are ideal for this. Follow Flay’s lead with family-style Italian dinners or homemade burrito bowls with cauliflower rice. For family-style breakfast or brunch, set out stacks of pumpkin pie waffles so guests can dress their plates with seasonal fruit, cinnamon butter, or homemade honey whipped cream. Then sit back and enjoy your own meal.