The 10 Hottest Men in the Food Industry

by Catherine Donaldson-Evans

From the adorable, boy-next-door "Naked Chef" to the ruggedly handsome Bobby Flay and charming Aussie Curtis Stone, Slashfood rounds up the 10 most sizzling men in the food business. Warning: It's going to get hot in here.

10. Jamie Oliver

Blond, boyish, British and usually clothed, Jamie Oliver rose to fame as the "Naked Chef" -- though the sexy show name referred to how he stripped food down to its simplest forms, not to what he was or wasn't wearing. The married 34-year-old father of three has more recently been on a crusade to convert the overweight and junk-food-obsessed into healthy eaters in the soon-to-air ABC series, "Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution." The effort recently reduced him to tears in the nation's fattest city, Huntington, W. Va. We love a sensitive man -- especially with an accent.

9. Todd English

His star rose with his Mediterranean-Italian restaurant, Olives, which won the 49-year-old accolades when it opened -- first in the Boston area and later in New York City and Las Vegas. The suave chef, named one of People's 50 most beautiful people in 2001, has hosted shows including "Food Trip with Todd English" on PBS. His reputation was tainted when health code violations shut some of his restaurants down and again when stories surfaced that he jilted his bride-to-be days before their wedding last fall.

8. Bobby Flay

Specializing in grilling and Southwestern fusion cuisine, the ruggedly handsome Bobby Flay made a name for himself with his acclaimed New York City restaurants Mesa Grill, Bolo (which later closed) and Bar Americain. Educated at the French Culinary Institute, the 45-year-old celebrity chef has hosted seven shows on the Food Network, including the wildly popular "Throwdown! with Bobby Flay." He is married to the "Law & Order" actress Stephanie March. If you've got an affinity for redheads with a healthy dose of self-confidence, consider Flay the grill master of your dreams.

7. Marcus Samuelsson

At only 24 years old, the Ethiopian-born Marcus Samuelsson became the executive chef at New York City's revered restaurant Aquavit and went on to be the youngest ever to get a three-star review in The New York Times. The dashing Samuelsson, now 39, was a guest chef for President Obama's first state dinner in November and appeared on "Iron Chef America," but was defeated by Bobby Flay. He is married to model Gate Haile. The baby-faced chef with impeccable style certainly spices up our life.

6. Tyler Florence

Hunky Tyler Florence grew up in South Carolina, where he went to cooking school before moving to New York City to work alongside some of the top chefs. The charismatic culinary whiz is now a Food Network star, hosting "How to Boil Water," "Food 911" and most recently "Tyler's Ultimate." The 38-year-old Florence is married with three children and has opened several kitchen supply shops and a restaurant in the San Francisco area. He may know "How to Boil Water," but the well-coiffed culinary artist certainly heats up the kitchen on his own.

5. The Brothers Voltaggio

Double the Voltaggio, double the fun. As opposite as the comedy-tragedy mask, Michael and Bryan Voltaggio sous-vided their way into the hearts of viewers across America on the latest season of "Top Chef: Las Vegas." Bryan, 33, is executive chef and partner at VOLT in Frederick, Md. Younger brother Michael, 30, serves as Chef de Cuisine at Pasadena's The Dining Room at the Langham. There's a Voltaggio for every palate: If you prefer your boys "bad," tattooed and with a "Top Chef" title, Michael might tickle your taste buds. If you prefer the clean-cut, silent type, Bryan (albeit being married) might be your plat du jour.

4. Johnny Iuzzini

If you prefer your men sugar-fueled with a streak of a mad scientist, Iuzzini will delight your sweet tooth. Iuzzini is the executive pastry chef of New York City's Jean-Georges, with a James Beard Award to boot. Known for his molecular gastronomic creations, Iuzzini smolders while creating the likes of strawberry leather and chocolate spaetzle. With eye candy like this, who needs dessert?

3. Rocco DiSpirito

Passionate Italian-American chef Rocco DiSpirito became famous --and infamous – during his stint on one of the earliest reality cooking shows, NBC's "The Restaurant." The series, which followed the opening of his new venture Rocco's, had all the makings of good drama: fires in the kitchen, cat fights, love affairs. But, it blew up during a real-life battle over money between the 43-year-old chef and his financier. DiSpirito has since appeared on "Top Chef" and "Dancing With the Stars." Nevertheless, a good-looking Italian man who can cook? Now, that's amore.

2. Curtis Stone

This 34-year-old Aussie worked at some of the top restaurants Down Under before traveling to Europe to expand his culinary horizons. The blue-eyed blond with surfer-boy good looks worked alongside some of London's premier chefs before returning to Australia to host the cooking-travel show "Surfing the Menu." He later starred in the American series "Take Home Chef" on TLC. Stone may hear those dreaded words "You're Fired!" now that he's signed on for Donald Trump's "The Celebrity Apprentice" this spring, but he'll always be the debonair CEO of our kitchen. "Take Home Chef" on-air or not, the front door's always open, Curtis ...

1. Sam Talbot

Sam Talbot has been a food world hottie since he whipped out his...er, knives...as a finalist on season two of "Top Chef." He recently separated from his wife Paola Guerrero, a Colombian model and T-shirt designer, which means he's back on the market! Talbot is the executive chef at the popular Montauk restaurant, Surf Lodge. In 2010, he'll also man the kitchen at a New York City outpost of the Mondrian Hotel -- so if you're single Manhattanite with a foodie fetish, get thee to SoHo.

Do you agree with our list? If we've missed someone or you just plain 'ole disagree with us, let us know in the comments.

Related: The 10 Hottest Women in the Food Industry