Celebrity Chefs’ Kitchens

On television, celebrity chefs are surrounded by gleaming countertops, the latest appliances, and the best tools of the trade.  They never have to search through drawers for the right measuring spoon, and they never run out of anything.  But when the cameras are off, what do the chefs’ real kitchens look like?

Not surprisingly, they’re nice!  According to CNBC, Paula Deen’s own kitchen serves as the set for her TV show, Paula’s Home Cooking.  She wanted the utility of an industrial kitchen, but also a sense of warmth and hominess.  Paula achieved just this look by using brick, heavy ceiling beams, and soapstone counters along with state-of-the-art features like a deep fryer in the island.  The island is located centrally, but not in her “cooking zone.”  This means guests can come in and chat without getting in her way.  Add a few cozy classic bar stools, and you have a comfortable place for socializing or casual dining.

Guy Fieri, another restaurateur, author, and TV host, has a 900-square-foot kitchen, complete with two refrigerators, mega-burner for those 20 gallon pots of jambalaya, a 27,600 BTU gas wok burner, and a hands-free, hospital-style sink because “Nothing’s worse than touching a faucet with some nasty raw chicken on your hands.” 

Ina Garten, host of The Barefoot Contessa, takes an unusual approach to her décor.  Her kitchen, which was named as House Beautiful’s Kitchen of the Year, features comfy easy chairs.  She says, “The kitchen is the new living room.”  Ina, too, has designed her kitchen so no one has to walk through her cooking area but they can still chat comfortably in the kitchen.  Her philosophy is “The simpler it is, the better it is.”

No one exemplifies this as well as the legendary Julia Child.  Her kitchen looks like something your grandma may have cooked in.  One of the “luxuries” is the raised counters, which accommodated Child’s 6’2” frame.  It has gas and electric stovetops on a cooking island, a Garland commercial range, and some 1,200 tools.  What really distinguishes her kitchen, though, is its organization.  There is a place – and a peg, hook, or magnetic strip – for everything.  This is something that we can easily recreate in our own homes.  Cut the clutter, and get ready for some serious cooking.

Besides all the fancy, and pricy, gadgets, these celebrity chefs prize organization, cleanliness, and coziness.  It is important that the kitchen be a center for socializing, but that chatty guests don’t get in the way.  Ina uses easy chairs, but you could just as easily add bar stools or a dining set in the corner.  A great kitchen doesn’t have to cost a fortune; it just has to feel like home.