Tyler Florence seems to be everywhere these days. The celebrity chef and TV host hangs out with human-size grapes, takes part in a new Napa Valley food and wine fest, and wins coveted masthead posts at distinguished American pubs. Just an average six-odd months for the fella! And now, this bit of intel just landed in the Curbed Inbox: Florence, HB's new contributing food editor, has been selected to design House Beautiful's 2011 Kitchen of the Year, a 1,000-square-foot kitchen (and, for the first time, an adjoining 1,500-square-foot outdoor kitchen) in NYC's Rockefeller Center, which will be on view to the public for a week of kitchen tours, cooking demos, and tastings in mid July. Reps tell us Florence himself will direct the design and scope of the project—he's been involved in the design of all of his restaurants (including the recently opened El Paseo in San Fran) and retail stores—and that the space will take on warm, family-friendly "Northern California" feel. (Sponsors include Restoration Hardware and Rocky Mountain Hardware.) We're secretly thankful that Florence does not, in fact, star in a Bravo docudrama—just as 2010 Kitchen of the Year designer Jeff Lewis, of Flipping Out, does—and therefore won't awkwardly lead House Beautiful bigwigs through a televised KOTY meeting. Hallelujah that we don't have to sit through that again! And, of course, a big fist pump goes to editor in chief Newell Turner for declaring the kitchen "the new living room" in the release below.
Photo: John Lee/House Beautiful
PRESS RELEASE: TYLER FLORENCE, RENOWNED CHEF AND TV STAR, DESIGNS THE 2011 HOUSE BEAUTIFUL KITCHEN OF THE YEAR
Magazine’s Fourth Annual Ultimate American Kitchen Returns to Rockefeller Center ®
With the Newest and Best Design Ideas and Culinary Inspiration
Open to the Public: Monday, July 18 through Friday, July 22
New York, NY (March 22, 2011) – The much-anticipated House Beautiful Kitchen of the Year, returns to Rockefeller Plaza in New York City on Monday, July 18. Tyler Florence, star chef, Food Network host, best-selling author, and House Beautiful contributing editor is bringing his unique Northern California esthetic to this fully-functioning, 1,000 square foot state-of-the-art Kitchen of the Year. The Kitchen will be the perfect union of tradition, functionality and warm, welcoming design – hallmarks of Florence’s style incorporating heritage and quality craftsmanship. Creating his personal vision for the kitchen as “the new American living room,” Florence will pull together all his passions: family, cooking, entertaining, comfort, design and heritage.
Presented in tandem with “Tastes of Summer,” the outdoor food festival featuring Rockefeller Center’s premier restaurants, House Beautiful’s Kitchen of the Year is a must-see destination for everyone from culinary enthusiasts and design devotees, to visitors looking for new and unique entertaining ideas.
For the first time, there will also be a fully-functioning outdoor kitchen on 1,500 square feet of stone patio, which actually makes this year’s Kitchen of the Year two kitchens.
Open daily from Monday, July 18 through Friday, July 22. Tyler Florence fans will have a chance to meet the renowned chef at free events throughout the week. In addition, visitors will enjoy daily cooking demonstrations, tastings, kitchen tours, design presentations and more. House Beautiful will update the Kitchen of the Year Web site as additional details are confirmed: www.housebeautiful.com/KOTY.
“We’re excited to have Tyler designing our Kitchen of the Year this summer. His personal style of creating a warm space the entire family will enjoy really resonates with our readers,” said Newell Turner, editor-in-chief of House Beautiful. “His vision for a family’s kitchen is more than just where they cook delicious meals – it’s what a home is built around and where the family entertains, lives, and reconnects with each other. It’s the new living room.”
Located in the middle of Rockefeller Plaza where the famous Christmas tree stands every holiday season, the Kitchen of the Year brings the pages of House Beautiful to life, allowing visitors to experience, first hand, innovative products and unique design ideas to create a dream kitchen.
Tyler Florence said, “Having lived in New York City for 14 years, I've seen House Beautiful’s kitchen and it's fantastic. I'm really excited about adding my own twist to it. We’re going to bring a Northern California sensibility to it and a more rustic and cozy feel, and a fantastic point of view right in the middle of Rockefeller Center. I can’t wait to do it – this is going to be a dream come true.”
The 2011 House Beautiful Kitchen of the Year partners include Belgard Hardscapes by Oldcastle, Bimbo Bakeries, caesarstone, KitchenAid, KraftMaid Cabinetry, kate spade new york, KOHLER, Restoration Hardware, Rocky Mountain Hardware, Shaw Floors, Sunbrella, The Container Store and Truvia.
In addition to opening the Kitchen of the Year, House Beautiful will also present “Tastes of Summer” on Rockefeller Plaza, which will offer visitors a sampling of delicious food and beverages for a nominal fee from some of New York City’s most popular restaurants daily from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. from Tuesday, July 19, through Thursday, July 21. Participating restaurants include AJ Maxwell’s Steakhouse, Bill’s Bar & Burger, Brasserie Ruhlmann, Magnolia Bakery, Morrell’s Wine Bar & Café, Rock Center Café, The Sea Grill, and witchcraft.
For design enthusiasts outside of the New York City area, the Kitchen of the Year will be featured online at www.housebeautiful.com/KOTY with videos, podcasts and other special features as well as in the October 2011 issue of House Beautiful which is available September 13.
· Now, a Photo of Tyler Florence Hanging With Some Grapes [Eater National]
· Flavor! Napa Valley Gets a Food and Wine Event [Curbed National]
· House Beautiful Welcomes Tyler Florence [Curbed National]
· 2011 Kitchen of the Year With Tyler Florence [House Beautiful]
· Tyler Florence and Sammy Hagar Unleash El Paseo [Curbed SF]