Food Network star Anne Burrell has confirmed she is gay after she was apparently outed by fellow network star Ted Allen.
Charismatic, spiky blond-haired Burrell, who hosts “Secrets of a Restaurant Chef” and also appears on “Iron Chef America” and “Worst Cooks in America,” says she was not ruffled when “Chopped” star Allen revealed on Romaine Patterson’s Sirius XM show, “I am not going to put a label on Anne, but she is dating a woman right now.”
Burrell’s rep told Page Six: “Anne doesn’t feel she was outed. She has made no secret of her relationship. Her significant other is a very private woman. They have been together for a couple of years and spend a lot of time together. It is no secret in the culinary world.”
Sources tell us Burrell’s girlfriend is another top James Beard Award-winning chef. Sources also said Burrell — an instructor at New York’s Institute of Culinary Education — appeared alarmed when she learned of Allen’s comments while shooting her show.
She was filming at Old Homestead Steakhouse in the Meatpacking District last Thursday, but bolted out — telling the production crew she had “a situation to deal with” and sped off on her bicycle, returning to the set the next day.
While an Old Homestead rep confirmed the restaurant was closed for two days while Burrell was filming, and, “She was gracious, fun-loving and every bit the personality that has made her a favorite,” our source added, “The place was buzzing, but no one dared to ask her about Allen’s comments.”
Burrell’s sexuality has been the subject of speculation, but until now she’s been quiet about it. Last year, Out magazine noted that while the Food Network counts a sizable gay audience, none of its major stars have publicly come out. “We’re always looking to broaden the diversity of our hosts,” said Bob Tuschman, general manager and senior vice president of the the network.