Bobby Flay

Resident Chef, "The Early Show"

(CBS)  Chef and restaurateur Bobby Flay contributes the "Boy Meets Grill" segment to The Early Show's. Flay has a reputation as one of the most innovative chefs in the United States. His use of indigenous American, Southwestern and Mediterranean ingredients have helped establish new standards in American cooking.

Flay's inventiveness has brought recognition to his two New York City restaurants, Mesa Grill and Bolo. The Zagat Survey has voted Mesa Grill the No. 1 American regional restaurant and one of the top 25 New York restaurants since it opened in 1991.

Bolo continues to be voted the top Spanish restaurant in New York since its debut in 1993.

"In all of my years of eating in New York, Mesa Grill is one of my favorite restaurants," says Steve Friedman, The Early Show's former senior executive producer. "Bobby brings the expertise and wit of his latest book, 'Boy Meets Grill,' to our viewers."

In addition to "Boy Meets Grill," Flay is the author of "Bold American Food" (1994) and "From My Kitchen to Your Table" (1998).

Flay's talents have been recognized with several prestigious awards, including the Rising Star Chef Award from the James Beard Foundation in 1993. He also was the first recipient of the Outstanding Graduate Award from the French Culinary Institute, from which he graduated in 1984.
He is a resident of New York City, where he was born.