RISMEDIA, November 30, 2010—While traditional recipes reign throughout the holiday season, many people turn to America’s favorite celebrity chefs to provide a unique twist on some holiday staples. So where do the masterminds behind these recipes cook up their own holiday feast? In their homes. Here’s a list of 10 famous chef’s homes where holiday meal magic is all but guaranteed.
Rachael Ray
Southampton, NY
Celebrity chef and author Rachael Ray may have to take a break from her 30-minute meals to prepare an amazing holiday dinner at her European villa-style home in Southampton, NY. The Wall Street Journal first reported Ray’s interest in the 6.2-acre estate back in 2007, and, according to public record, she finally purchased the home in 2008 for $2.1 million. The property includes a three bedroom, three bathroom main house, two bedroom guest house and a quaint one bedroom, one bathroom cottage, making it an ideal destination for the family holiday.
Bobby Flay
Hunters Point, NY (former)
Food Network’s resident grill master, Bobby Flay, lives a busy life as an author, Iron Chef, executive chef to 10 restaurants, and host to a series of cooking shows. Before moving to his custom, dream home in the Stoney Hill area of Amagansett, NY, Flay relaxed and enjoyed a casual game of pool at his ivy-draped apartment in Hunters Point, NY. His Amagansett home, which was completed in August of 2010, is hidden amongst the trees on a 2.89-acre lot, which he and wife, actress Stephanie March purchased for $1.5 million in 2009. The new home fittingly features an indoor and outdoor kitchen.
Guy Fieri
Santa Rosa, CA
Guy Fieri first popped onto America’s TV set as the 2nd season winner of The Next Food Network Star. Now, his trademark bleach-blonde spiked hair is all over Food Network’s prime-time slot as host to popular cooking shows like Guy’s Big Bite and Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. When the holidays roll around, however, this “Culinary Rock Star” takes a break from scoping out the country’s foodie hotspots and whips up some bold flavors for the crew at his home in Santa Rosa, CA. In an interview with the Press Democrat, Fieri’s wife says they’ve put a lot of the Food Network income into improving their modest home and are comfortable without the glitz and glamour. According to Zillow, the home sits on 1.21 acres and features four bedrooms, three bathrooms and over 2,000 square feet of living space.
Andrew Zimmern
St. Paul, MN (former)
Internationally recognized chef Andrew Zimmern puts his taste buds to the test on his Travel Channel show Bizarre Foods. When the globetrotting foodie isn’t stretching the limits of edibility, he used to cozy up for the holidays in his 1894 Victorian home in St. Paul, MN. The three bedroom, 1.5-bathroom house features refinished hardwood floors and a gigantic yard that is perfect for hosting the occasional dinner party. According to public records, Zimmern recently sold the property in May of this year for $247,000.
Paula Deen
Savannah, GA
For ya’ll that are fans of butter and Southern-style comfort food, Paula Deen is a cooking idol. Host of Food Network’s Paula’s Home Cooking, Deen is sure to be chefing up some flavorful dishes with some Southern flair at her four bedroom, 4.5-bathroom home in Savannah, GA.
Emeril Lagasse
New Orleans, LA
Master chef, Food Network host and author, Emeril Lagasse stepped onto the culinary scene with a BAM! The charismatic cook is always on the move as the face of Emeril Live and Essence of Emeril and owner of restaurants all over the country, including Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada and Pennsylvania. When it comes to the holidays, however, the only place Emeril will “kick it up a notch” is at his home in New Orleans, LA, which sits on the edge of the exclusive English Turn Golf and Country Club.
Martha Stewart
East Hampton, NY
The ultimate house and home guru, Martha Stewart covers the holidays from food tips to table settings. For almost three decades, Stewart enjoyed spending the holidays at her famous Turkey Hill residence, a four acre property in Westport, CT. The 19th-century, three bedroom farmhouse, where Stewart launched her career, was put on the market for $9 million in 2006 and later sold for $6.7 million—a 26% discount. While the menu may already be decided, Stewart now has to choose between hosting dinner at her Lily Pond Lane estate in East Hampton, NY or her home in Katanah, NY.
Charlie Palmer
Greenwich Village, NY
Three-star Michelin chef Charlie Palmer is best known for his flagship restaurant, Aureole, which served as a platform for the cast of fine dining restaurants that fall under the Charlie Palmer brand. The Progressive American cuisine-style chef splits his time between Sonoma County, CA and New York, and recently scooped up an apartment in the remodeled Devonshire House building. Despite the new pad’s “elegant modern interior” and amazing Greenwich Village location, the New York Observer reports that Palmer only purchased a 893-square foot apartment. With a wife and four sons, it is safe to assume Palmer will be flying back to Sonoma before any holiday cooking commences.
Ina Garten
East Hampton, NY
Barefoot Contessa host Ina Garten is a fan of simple, quick-to-cook French food that would be undoubtedly incorporated into her holiday menu. According to Hamptons.com, the East Hampton, NY home was originally part of Mulford Farm and owned by the Mulford family since 1640. Garten has lived in the home for almost two decades and, retaining its historic charm, has turned the property into a country classic. The home was even featured in House Beautiful as the 2009 Kitchen-of-the-Year.
Giada De Laurentiis
Pacific Palisades, CA
Bubbly, Italian chef and Food Network host, Giada De Laurentiis shares her Italian cuisine secrets during her show Giada at Home. Who knows what kind of Italian flair she is capable of mixing into holiday favorites, but we’re sure it’s a perfect outcome at her extensively remodeled 1,600-square foot home in Pacific Palisades, CA. The home is adorned with modern furniture and features a terrace with outdoor kitchen, office, completely rebuilt kitchen and rooftop deck with views of the ocean.
Julia Child
Cambridge, MA
Last but not least, if the true queen of cooking were still alive, a holiday dinner at Julia Child’s Cambridge home would be a dream-come-true for any generation. Known for introducing America to French cuisine, the culinary icon lived in a historic 6,000-square foot home built in 1889. The three-story house has since been renovated and features five bedrooms, five bathrooms, four fireplaces, an eat-in kitchen and spacious brick patio. If you’re interested in seeing Julia’s kitchen as it once was, check out the spot-on replica of her kitchen at the Smithsonian.
Lauren Riefflin is PR/Marketing Coordinator at Zillow.com.
For more information, visit www.zillow.com.
