On Monday I was in Manhattan for a snappy trip to New York, courtesy of the kind folks at Hellmann’s mayonnaise. Hellmann’s is kicking off their new “Build the Perfect Sandwich” campaign and invited a few bloggers to come be a part of the launch party and sandwich-making demo. I was delighted to attend.
They flew us in on Sunday and treated us to fabulous meet and greet dinner at Todd English’s Ça Va. We started off with appetizers (steak tartar, shrimp tarts, and caprese tarts — truly incredible!), then started the meal off with salad and this french onion soup with bacon. Doesn’t it look like we had gorgeous natural light in here? I only wish! Actually it was very dark and moody. The lovely Shaina Olmanson is precariously positioning her cell phone for extra lighting here!
I can’t believe I didn’t get a photo of the main course! Because it was truly worth writing home about (a beautiful steak with tiny, roasted fingerling potatoes). But you know I was so all over snapping a photo of dessert. There was a chocolate cookie crust filled with chocolate mousse and topped with cool, smooth ice cream. Perfect.
The next morning we slept in and leisurely headed downstairs to Ça Va again for brunch. Glorious. The menu was so incredible, I didn’t know how I was ever going to choose, but I ended up deciding on this brioche french toast with Nutella drizzle, powdered sugar, and fresh berries. Gorgeous. and Lovely.
The launch party was a fun event all about classic American sandwiches with recipes developed by…
Bobby Flay!
Swoon.
Bobby made sandwiches for us.
And we ate them.
He also shared some of his best sandwich-making tips.
My favorite was to not only cut the sandwich diagonally, but also on the bias (slanted) so you can show off the lovely ingredients inside the sandwich. What a great tip, I don’t know that I would’ve ever thought of that. He also spreads the condiments on both sides of the sandwich, all the way out to the edge, to keep the sandwich from being dry.
After Bobby’s sandwich making demo, we were given the opportunity to interview the Iron Chef himself. We could chose to interview him in New York, known for its Turkey Reuben…
Or Florida, famous for the Miami Cuban…
Or down in New Orleans, home of the Chicken Muffuletta.
Naturally, I chose the one with the bench.
Bobby is just as cute and charming as he appears to be on television, and it was such a pleasure chatting with him. Press the play buttons below to listen to the interview and hear Bobby chat candidly about his most memorable Throwdown episode, the most challenging thing he’s ever made, how his new brunch show on the Cooking channel has been eight years in the making, and a new brunch episode devoted entirely to chocolate!
What is your most memorable “Throwdown” episode?
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What’s the most challenging thing you’ve ever made?
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It’s Guys Night In. What do you make?
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We know you love brunch. But do you prefer sweet or savory brunches?
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Any exciting upcoming episodes of your new show, Brunch with Bobby?
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81 Comments
You are so LUCKY* I loooove Bobby Flay!
WOW OH WOW what a great experience. I think he is a wonderful chef and a cutie to boot. Paulette
Oh, how I love Bobby Flay. What a great trip for you – thanks for the cool interview.
Wow!!! What a great experience….you got to interview Bobby Flay, that is SO GREAT!!
Amazing! I’m still mulling over an all chocolate brunch. Yum.
Ok if there’s one thing I seriously took away from this amazing post and Amanda Bottoms photos -
I’m so making Brioche this weekend. ☺
Wow! Yes, I am impressed! Sounds like you had a blast!!
Omg I am speechless…how awesome!!
Both the trip to NY AND meeting Bobby! WOW!
What an awesome experience and I can only hope one day I meet a celeb chef!
Not sure if my last comment showed up but just wanted to say…awesome experience and thanks for sharing it!
Love it, love Bobby Flay, and very quickly have started absolutely loving your blog!! We’ve had Cheeseburger Macaroni twice since your post. Hehe…yummy. :)
Wow, what a day!! It sounds like you had a great time!!
I want YOUR job! What a fun trip you must have had.!!!
This is amazing! How did Hellmann’s choose you for this?! JEALOUS!
I am SO jealous. I have always been a Bobby Flay superfan!
Lucky!!! thats so awesome!
How in the world do you get to do things like this?! I am so jealous. But lucky for me…I live “through you”. Thanks for sharing with us Amanda!
How awesome you got to chat with Bobby Flay!
Lucky you! What a delicious experience in many ways…especially the bobby flay part. ;)
Ah, so lucky, Amanda!! I love Bobby Flay… he ran the NYC Marathon this year when I did, too. Runners & foodies are a unique little group. :)
PS, love your sandals!
Lucky you! And lucky us because you shared your very nice interview, thanks.
Great interview questions! That’s so interesting about the brunch show. And I am swooning all over again, looking at your photos. (P.S. So glad I got to chat with you on Monday! What an awesome experience the whole thing was.)
I love how they did the settings for your interview! What a great idea :)
You look great too Amanda!
This looks so fun Amanda! Love the photos, love the audio, love it all! Talk soon!
Oh Amanda, how exciting for you to meet and interview Bobby Flay! You’re one lucky girl!
Bobby Flay! How do you look so calm, I would be nervous as all get-out. Good job with the interview. What a great experience.
I would have been a giddy little school girl! *Swoon* is SO right!
What an amazing experience Amanda – how lucky are you!
I too think it’s so cool you were able to meet and interview Bobbly Flay, but most of all I enjoyed hearing your voice – Usually you have get to put a face with the voice…this is opposite, after following your blog for a while I was able to put a “voice with the face” – in some way this has made you more interesting. LOL – okay that’s my take on this – have a great day and keep all the wonderful recipes coming!
Great interview! (I would have chosen the bench too :) Need info about your sandals – they’re so cute!
Thanks Sandy! They’re from DSW, brand is S.E. Boutique :)
I am so excited for you!!
That french toast looks AH-mazing!! Bobby Flay is so cool… and you did great interviewing him :) Loved that cardigan and top (super cute outfit)! Thanks for sharing the interview clips!
You lucky duck! What a fun weekend!
What fun!! He does seem like a fun guy to interview and watch. Yay for you. thanks for sharing.
oh.em.gee. how cool is that – meeting and interviewing bobby flay! i so love him!
I want your life. LOL
*sigh* To say I’m jealous is an understatement!!! I really adore Bobby Flay and love all his shows. So looking forward to his new one!! And looking forward to listening to these interview answers when I get home from work today :) Thanks so much for sharing, you lucky girl! P.S. Great questions you asked him! I think I’d be so flustered I would not have a CLUE what to ask :P
Glad you had fun! Great recap post!
I’m beyond jealous! :D I adore Bobby! I would probaly embarrass myself if I ever met him… Or I might embarrass him! ;D He is just darlin’!!
I’m so glad you had such a wonderful time!!
-Many Smiles!
Amanda, you look gorgeous and so perfect sitting there with Chef Flay. I am new to your website, but I really enjoy it. Thanks for sharing your fun time.
It was fun listening to the interview clips. You did a great job!
You are amazing! A couple years ago I googled a recipe for a creamy tomato pasta and was lead to your website— my first experience with the blogging world. I fell in love with your blog and was lead to several others, which I am now addicted to. It’s posts like these that make me want to join the club so I can have wonderful experiences like you! Thanks for sharing. Jealous.
OMG – how exciting!! I wouldn’t know what to say to Bobby Flay – you did great!
I had so much fun with you, Amanda! I love how your interview turned out. May just have to steal that idea for myself. :)
Can’t wait to see you need month at BHF!
Ah Amanda, it’s times like these that I live vicariously through you! In my happy daydreams, I’m whisked away by Baker’s or Domino or Wilton, wined and dined, and then I’m sitting on a cozy bench next to Lorraine McKay or Peggy Porschen or Sharon Zambito. *Sigh* Great job!!
Great questions. Enjoyed hearing your voice, so calm and articulate. Thanks!
You are too kind, Donna! :) I was doing flip flops on the inside, as evidenced by my many “uhhs” and “umms” :)
How exciting! Such a wonderful experience. Proud of you, girl. Love ya.
What a wonderful opportunity, looks like you had fun and GREAT food! Really good questions and I enjoyed the interview with Bobby.
As others have said, please share outfit info! Cute shoes, cardigan and top.
Aww, thank you April! :)
Cardigan: Ann Taylor Loft
Top: J. Crew
Sandals: DSW
Way to go, Amanda! How exciting to meet and actually *interview* Bobby Flay!
You lucky girl!
YOUR LIFE IS SO EXCITING!! :) Great questions, thanks for sharing!
First of all, I LOVE Bobby Flay – I was so excited to see him featured on your blog! Second, that french toast looks like the most incredible breakfast item in the world. I wish I could make mine look like that!
OH my goodness! How incredibly fun! :)
You lead a charmed life, dear Amanda, and we live vicariously through you! :) Thanks for sharing!
Nice.I like Bobby Flay but being a guy I’m more jealous that he got to meet you.Great job on the interview.You’ll have your own cooking show in no time…PS: don’t be concerned Kevin,I’m a grandfather!
Love it! What fun!!!! So exciting for you, and thanks for sharing with all of us so we feel like we got to be there, too. :)
How amazing for you Amanda! That is so awesome! And yeah, a bit jealous, but thanks for sharing with us commoners ;) LOL
He is so charmingly wonderful. I love the hand on shoe in the few pictures. So cute.
i love bobby flay.. what a talented guy. and how fun for you to be a part of the event.
i need to go eat now.
I have a little crush on Bobby Flay. I love his shows on the food network. Looks like you had a great time!
How FUN! Great coverage, great photos, and you look beautiful!!! Thanks for sharing! Just wish I’d known you were in my neck of the woods, I could have finally met the girl behind the best blog ever :)
You look amazing! What fun, thanks for sharing! ☺
I’m starstruck! How completely exciting – it sounds like you had a blast!
I am so jealous!!
Oh. My. Gosh. What a wonderful opportunity!! I can’t believe you got to meet Bobby Flay!! You did such a great job with your interview!! And you looked adorable!
Thanks for sharing your interview, I absolutely looove Bobby!!
Sounds like you had such a lovely time! What a great opportunity to meet Bobby Flay and enjoy such wonderful food!
I used to love the Food network when I lived in the U.S. I learned so many of my cooking techniques from all the fun shows! Bobby Flay was definitely one of my favorites! How fun and exciting that you got to see his show and interview him!
Oh.my.god.
………
Don’t mind me…I just passed out.
What a great interview! You did a fantastic job! You look so poised and cute – way to go!!!
Oh my gosh!! What a great experience!! I love Bobby Flay…he’s one of my most favorite food Network chefs!! You’re so lucky!! Great interview and great questions!!
You are so lucky Amanda! That looks like so much fun…and so yummy too! I will definitely listen to the interview when I get home. Great pictures too! :)
wow, you are living the life! You have a beautiful voice.
You lucky girl you! Awesome interview questions & I’m so glad you were able to record the session & share it with everyone! By the way…love your sandals!
Oh how exciting!! I adore Bobby Flay and would have been totally starstruck!
I always tell my hubby, when I see Bobby Flay, “I would let him hold my hand…”!! He’s yummy, and I am guessing so is his food!! Lucky you!
Hi Amanda,
How do you do your research on these places before you go visit? And you wrote about keeping lists in your phone? My husband and I are planning a trip next month to Maine – and we’re trying to get organized and plan places to go…just wondering if you had some tips and tricks to share?
Thanks in advance! :0)
Awesome interview! How nice to meet him and hang out for a few.
hi amanda – great article, great weekend, great photos! did you use a flash indoors or did you just bump up your iso? so great! xx
I love your questions for Bobby, I would have been a total wreck ;) I love Throwdown…he seems so down to earth and likable on that show!