19-Year-Old Chef Flynn McGarry Is Ready To Be Taken Seriously | Changing The Game

After opening Gem in Manhattan, teen chef Flynn McGarry wants to be known for more than his age. After all, he’s been doing this for years.
"Changing The Game" is Fast Company's latest KZbin series. New episodes air every Tuesday at 11 am.

[@KendrickTran]

I'm impressed by his intelligent, wisdom, and maturity, especially for a young prodigy

[@areebanawaz1184]

that thing u wrote for some reason is really artistic i donno why but i bet u will be good at poetry or writing

[@webbo1]

@@areebanawaz1184 he has the wrong word for intelligent. It is intelligence* not intelligent-nouns and adjectives. 👍

[@choppyturtle3398]

Good on him, I’m twelve, cook dinner everyday and dream of having a restaurant young - what an inspiration for an aspiring chef.

[@tipejo852]

well spoken for a twelve year old. Good luck achieving your dreams!

[@choppyturtle3398]

@@tipejo852 thanks very much!

[@Trisin-m3i]

@@choppyturtle3398 wow that's nice, good luck !

[@karenlewkowitz5858]

All the best, Choppy Turtle!

[@everettcoleman2335]

I’m 17 and cook everyday and I plan on opening a restaurant one day as well, good luck on achieving your dreams man!!

[@julesmpc1314]

what this guy needs is to travel...expand his tastes, views, try new ingredients...that will keep him fresh.

[@NamNguyen-qv5zw]

absolutely agree with you...

[@mrduke1376]

He will someday because he needs to

[@abelito]

If he traveled the only thing he would get from it would be views the city he lives in pretty much offers the same produce in all those other countries

[@___chief866]

He lives in one of the most culturally diverse cities in the world with 76 Michelin starred restaurants. He can get every ingredient there and His tastes expanded with a simply lyft ride to a restaurant. He has put in the work and his talent shows it.

[@wowpeter]

@@___chief866 I agree and disagree to a certain extend. Just being able to go to places like Japan, Korea, China, France or Italy, will open up so much more, what you get in New York in terms of food culture are what has been adopted to the American taste. But to expand your palette, you really need to go local and experience them, there are so many things you simply can not experience in new York. And all of this is not meant to be a negative point for him or for NYC. He looks extremely talented, but he will be even more amazing when he open up his experience to Food from around the world.

[@maryamismail5660]

It is ashame that some would discount some because they are young. He seems to have years of experience. Spain was conquered by a 17 year old and the Shah of Persia was an emperor at 14, in this case 19 is a tad bit over the hill.

[@___chief866]

Yes many people in the comments on every video that features him do. You’re right

[@Hook_em1108]

My favorite line " excuse my language but what the fuck?!" Love it lol

[@angeloveloso5004]

Gordon would be proud of him.

[@danteheiner]

I hear a lot of people making remarks as to how mature he is for his age with regard to both his attitude and his style of cuisine. I'm only 24 but have been working professionally in the kitchen for 10 years now and only see that as one, he was born into financial privilege so that style of food is what he was introduced at a young age; and two he worked with some of the greatest chefs in the country. However; he would jump around from restaurant to restaurant in short stints, never truly working for a chef. He always stayed in the stage phase and never had to truly bust his ass under a chef to garner true respect for what he is clearly passionate about. for those that are not versed in our field; doing short stints for acclaimed chefs is to very impressive. No chef, however acclaimed they may be, is going to turn away free labor unless they are a complete detriment to the kitchen. We can always use someone to turn artichoke hearts for free. It only becomes impressive to flaunt experience under chefs like Achatz, Hollingsworth, Boulud, Keller, and others if you have worked under them for years, or at a minimum one year. Unless you are a demi chef de parti for them you most likely are not getting paid and to bust your ass in some of the hardest kitchens under the best chefs for a minimum of one year shows true dedication to the craft. Everyone in this industry works the kind of shifts he works and the only reason people outside of the industry ooh and awe over his work ethic is because he is young. He never had to truly work for the financial backing that has received. With the kind of professional reviews, he receives its shows that he could have benefited from working under these chefs for extended periods of time. The hardest type of cuisine to execute ist the style he works under. It takes real skill to highlight the core qualities of incredible ingredients to let the shine. Most people think of it as simple food but it is far from it. It may be simple if the number of components but figuring out how to highlight an ingredient to its fullest potential takes the experience and mentorship that he frankly doesn't have. I know that it seems like I am completely shitting on him but I do admire the ethic he has towards food. I only know a handful of chefs that have the kind of love for food that he has. All the best chefs in the world have the kind of attitude towards food that he has, the just had to work their way up under some of the most difficult chefs in the most difficult kitchens in the world to receive the kind of acclaim he is receiving due to his age. This will fizzle out because he has not earned the kind of respect he needs to survive in the world he has thrust himself into. This industry is a very close-knit one, chefs rely on each other and form close relationships and he has already closed the doors to that essential part of this industry by jumping directly into owning a restaurant. I am not in his position; however, if he wants to become one of the greats, he should hire a new exec chef and sell his part of the restaurant to go back and work under some of the best chefs. It would demonstrate the maturity to these chefs and he could truly propel forward.

[@andrewwoodcock1194]

Quite right!! As an englishman cooking in france,only name a chef after minimum 1 yrs graft (sorry i mean work!) I remember G dickhead Ramsey getting his arse kicked by a Mr Marco at Harveys in London! So i also agree you have to earn respect,unfortunately generations change along with attitudes and work ethics,whatever country. You obviously know the score,so good luck!!

[@ron3vedi170]

quite an underrated comments

[@andybeto1]

💯 true.

[@napalmfist1]

Bro who are you, this was an amazing comment!!

[@danteheiner]

Napalm just a cook

[@marcr8556]

There are a few issues with Chef Flynn. Not as a person, but just little things that are not allowing him to break out on his own in the public eye. He often says “The Chefs he worked for” a one to two month stage at Alinea or Eleven Madison Park is not the same as working there for a year. So his peers in the culinary profession do not like hearing that from him. “If you haven’t worked here a year, you haven’t worked here a day. “ - Charlie Trotter He needs to address his marketing team. As long as he allows himself to be advertised as “The Justin Bieber of Cooking” he won’t be able to shed it. I want him to win because he loves food and the restaurant culture. But he needs to address that! in NYC the reason he is garnering so much attention for a 2-Star NY Times reviewed Restaurant is because of his age. The second he isn’t an under-21 chef people might not start to care. Also he tried to get my chef to mentor him. My chef let him down soft saying he was a little busy but he would do what he could to help. And gave him his phone number. He then told the kitchen it would be unfair to us to share his knowledge with Flynn and yet we are the ones busting our ass for him every single night. Knowledge must be earned. Which brings me to my last point. He was able to garner financial backing for a restaurant with no experience because his parents are loaded. So in this blue collar industry you can understand why a lot of people are sour to him. Some people are born rich some are born poor. He didn’t choose this but his gift is also his curse.

[@margretheilagadis_9753]

Leonidas Of Sparta WOW big words there buddy. You should probably post this somewhere where it's more effective here you're just getting likes from haters

[@marcr8556]

10 December I’m not posting this as a hater. As a Chef De Partie, I don’t see enough people who approach food like he does. He is positive and enthusiastic. But he does have his faults, whether he knows it or not.

[@margretheilagadis_9753]

Leonidas Of Sparta ♥️i never thought of you has an hater♥️ you're really making some good points there🙌🏻

[@andrewjenkinson8948]

Well said. I'm rooting for him, as I do for anyone in the industry with an obvious love for food (and he seems a genuinely decent and intelligent young man), but Flynn has taken a lot of shortcuts at this point of his career, and been handed many privileges which for most have to earn through blood/sweat/tears.

[@kopec82]

Marc Rodriguez very good points

[@madgtthree]

Realising you need to have amazing hair to be an amazing Chef. Gordon, Marco, this lad.

[@euaniceland]

and gary rhodes :/

[@gnarlyputh4515]

Am I the only one who just can't get enough of him?

[@MARTOabad]

me too

[@cornjobb]

you likely are

[@googo151]

Undecided.

[@jimmartin181]

"People have this obsession with defining things they don't understand with things they have already seen." Stop and think about that statement.....from a teenager. No college life necessary for this young man....he's ready for grad school.

[@daphnetownsel9173]

I wish I can meet him! Great Job

[@UrekTheElite]

2:30 he slurped the spoon and ticked the rest back to the blender lol

[@kh_qft762]

Pussy

[@peelkop4660]

Good Chef - my brother is top 50 restaurants in the world - but he HAS a life and personality. This dude is too young really talented but will end up hurting himself. Take a break and understand and realize you need to enjoy life and make the best of it.

[@HEDA_150]

How can he hurt himself when he love what's his doing.....

[@incogneterpeter]

This comment just seems like a comment to make everyone else see that you’re better.

[@ranny012]

You have to admit economical advantages or not the kid is talented. He is a prodigy. He had to work and refine his skill set. He did the work. Not his supposed advantages. That said, he’s a very humble, well spoken young man.

[@bicgohill8756]

Ya a ton of economically advantage kids are super losers at least this kid works.

[@belgianfour1000]

1:11 love this momment

[@_srvm9]

He is beautiful. Physically and mentally😘

[@evanoberkirsch4145]

Chill bro

[@ruxadams]

Ok dog, he did sample off a spoon to his mouth and smack that spoon back in the blender. Hope the health dept didnt see that one lol.

[@lezahwinlight4609]

He actually look like a young Gordon Ramsey...

[@devontarry9348]

At 2:37- tastes sauce, then taps saliva spoon on rim of blender?

[@ShotgunHeroX]

all sorta gunk there dude jeeez gnarllllyyy

[@meganrschultz7787]

That's fine because it will be cooked if it was being served as is then yes that is wrong

[@rtc7788]

He's adding youth flavor.

[@MrNilion]

We dont even know if this is something they are going to serve, maybe hes just trying some new stuff.

[@Celsoe1000]

@issoegastronomia O chef mais jovem estar de parabens.

[@debasishmondal7072]

I xxxvideo, 5

[@kopec82]

The free hair the spoon saliva thing I wonder if he has really work under supervision with a chef over a year?

[@eats4cheaps305]

A lot of chefs do that

[@MrMettajin]

Looks slightly like Gordon Ramsey but sounds like Shawn Mendes

[@calebjohnnicolas5952]

Hairnets ma bros. :)

[@joannekruger1758]

An old soul

[@mohdsyahirazlan7091]

Amazing

[@terrellavanryzin2722]

That taste @ 2:33....not sanitary

[@amliwotyed2012]

Every single hair was falling in the food he does. Excellent recipe lol

[@wweskywalker]

he’d make a great finn in an adventure time live action.

[@fh6560]

Honestly regardless of his age or experience he has the most important thing of all Passion He might not be a conventional chef or know the ropes of the hard kitchen life, blood sweat, pressure of becoming a line cook and that's ok in certain cases as long as I see passion and a hunger to strive I'm rooting for him He will be willing to learn if he has passion Although the commercial kitchen is the best place to learn it's not the only place to learn And him not having that doesn't mean he can't be the best one day Knowledge can be found everywhere

[@maitrimadiya5539]

He is Smart......

[@tenthousandquills1774]

This kid will not be fucked w/. I like this guy.

[@aljoscha4087]

when he starts rubbing olive oil over everything im sure they crossed jamie oliveoil and gordan saltsay in a lab

[@goxlau3243]

I can't believe nobody is wearing a chef Hat

[@Tkenny35]

Not hating but his parents must be rich or know a lot of people to be able to have people pay $160 for a meal made by an 11 yr old. Not hating. Take the chances you have and run with it

[@brixtonnejumawid32]

And your point is?

[@Thatdudewiththedogs]

@@brixtonnejumawid32 that his parents are super rich, so he got opportunities that 99 percent of us will never have. He's not hating, just pointing out a fact.

[@bbeckford90]

@@Thatdudewiththedogs believe it or not, that mentality you have is why you don't get the opportunities your looking for or want. If you can't find the opportunity, you make one for yourself.

[@Thatdudewiththedogs]

@@bbeckford90 who said I can't find opportunity? I'm doing v well lol. I'm simply pointing out that they were GIVEN opportunity that most of us work for

[@carolinalomeli9128]

@Ken Tran, @Dome, you are so clueless and judgemental! Get to know his story before making assumptions. He did not come from a rich home and he worked very hard before opportunities were presented to him. His parents were divorced ,his mother home-schooled him due to bullying. All his time at home provided the opportunity for him to create recipes, cook for family and friends. His mother supported him unconditionally and he was smart enough to go on social media and take advantage of the opportunities presented to him. He raised his own money for the restaurant.

[@FirstWorldProblemz]

He looks like a young Gordon Ramsey. Not saying their skills are the same but their looks

[@Hubchie]

Fuck bo he doesn’t Gordon always looked old lmao

[@Hubchie]

No

[@SathishSathish-jm4ig]

the real hero

[@Gabbyrosstheboss]

He was probably a chef in his past life

[@cheriemccallum331]

Well yeah, that's what we expected

[@juandelacruz9162]

Why am i seeing some physical resemblance with gordon ramsey? Maybe he is his son. Haha

[@chesterpuffington8368]

Tastes the spoon, then taps the remainder of what didn’t go in his mouth back into the blender. That was pretty disgusting.

[@corebry2936]

2:30 Dude just added his spit into the food. And dude better be wearing a hairnet cos I feel like his hair keeps falling in.

[@mokkidson645]

The next Gordon Ramsay

[@DerZeppterdesAldi]

No! The first Flynn McGarry!!!

[@wanahmadaiman8492]

Next 2 years : 21 years old cheff is taking not seriously

[@arjuntalwar1633]

Nice video

[@klajwh0681]

Wow, hes rich as fuck anyway!!! Jesus! Said he was 11 when he was charging 160 a head in LA....imagine that.

[@craigstethson7233]

He looks like a young Marco.

[@lAvRaAml]

2:30 He took spoon of some green shit from blender, Try a bit and after dropped back exceeded amount to blender with his saliva and microbes which is around 10 billions in usual mouth. In some other video he was using his phone and after cut row meat. How about also to wear some hair net? Did anyone have seen video where he is really doing some cooking from start to end? I just would like to see his technic and if he follows hygiene rules.

[@elydelgado3430]

Lol all the chef taste the food and use the same spoon you eat in a restaurant all the people in the kitchen taste the food and leave the germes lol. Sorry for this news

[@lAvRaAml]

@@elydelgado3430 Well lets be fair, maybe its true, but from other side there is rules for that, and if chief is not an idiot he at least should follow them while filmed on camera. Also I am sure that 3 Michelin Star chiefs trying to follow rules as they want to keep it in level.

[@aprilized]

I'm a professional chef and I noticed that immediately. You don't taste food and then tap the spoon's excess back into the blender/pot/bowl... bad bad form. The guy who answered you on this thread has no idea what he's talking about. You never use the same spoon twice to taste food. There is a container filled with spoons that you use all night tossing the used ones in the sink. So no, it's not true that all cooks taste the food with same spoon all night. This person knows nothing and you're right, he's wrong.

[@rahulbaid7109]

Exactly wht I noticed more then anything. .

[@Andrew-ei4tb]

I tough the title was a Gordon Ramsay

[@youjustwastedasecondofyour6293]

There are three thin bundles of hair shaking over his forehead that bother me tremendously. If those things exist today, as I'm writing this, I must invade Denmark.

[@valnerei9067]

J. A. Why Denmark?

[@TheKredden]

Needs more slowmo.

[@aaronsutich-ursell47]

Rich kids plays chef with no budget and unlimited resources

[@rahulbaid7109]

No offence to all what he is doing n what's happening to him .. no professional should do wht he did at ( 2.30 .. over rated 😎

[@2phalanges]

his hair looks like food to me

[@2phalanges]

@@ruveydaa2085 u Kno what else is funny? Chicken breast is actually flat.

[@queen_ofall2360]

I like, I like, I like!!!

[@matnavlogs5243]

mirror of my life

[@matthewventures]

2:30 ewwwwwwwwww

[@mannygranny9720]

fr

[@ohpov]

Get a hairnet.

[@rickcorel5154]

He should first to take "Food Safety Course". He touches every food with bare hands, he tastes food from a spoon and then throw leftovers back into a batch. he and his helpers are constantly touching and rubbing their noses, lips, faces... This, way, I never eat at so called "restaurants".

[@pvt.paula4423]

Wow. Then eat in a fucking chemistry laboratory

[@akimbodice6955]

@@pvt.paula4423 You're the kind of person I'd serve a burger to after having dropped the patty to the ground and your dumbass would go "MmmMM this shit good!!!"

[@pvt.paula4423]

@@akimbodice6955 nah dont think so because your dumbass wouldn't even be able to make the patty.

[@angelmichael8907]

Hes like a mix of bobby flay and if gordon was a fucking lady

[@dustyowl99]

imagine paying 160 dollars for an 11 year old to cook for you in his own house lmao

[@MalakianM2S]

If the meal is worth it I couldn't care less about the venue and the age of the cook to be honest. How people spend their money is totally subjective anyways, in the other side of the spectrum one could think that "imagine caring about how you spend 160 dollars".

[@bennyaoneblanco4626]

He looks like Ramsey not Justin

[@timothygarraty2390]

I wish my parents were millionaires

[@bicgohill8756]

Tim My brother-in-law makes over a million dollars per yer and he’s kids are the must spoiled, ungrateful,emotional, lazy and filthy kids on earth.

[@laralloyd7648]

Get Gorden Ramsey down in this joint then I think alot more people will take him serious cause let's be real he will tell it how it is

[@doginsweats2881]

If he becomes as mean as Marco Pierre White then he should be fine in the cooking industry

[@bruhbro1181]

No, he should learn from Gordon Ramsay, he literally looks like him

[@allblacklivesmatter9064]

Bro, your hair is cool, but its a bit cringe dangling over the food like that.

[@pewdiepiee3434]

River Phoniex

[@redsparks13]

Meanwhile ...

[@manctube2024]

get a haircut.......

[@MondoBeno]

Without his parent's money, he would have to start out as a line cook on the bottom.

[@iberouai6694]

No，he can raise funds for his own business and many people will support him

[@cherylbianchi9616]

why do you presume his parents have money? raised by a single mom, hand to mouth...

[@carolinalomeli9128]

MondoBeno, stop being a hater.

[@binodlepcha6647]

hi sir this is benot lepcha from india, actually i like to work at reasturent it my hobby and i was started to work at this Hotelindustry its been 4 years so i need a job could u offer me a job in us it my dream to come usa

[@meganrschultz7787]

Can barely speak English.... Learn that first then ask!

[@code1kobra570]

Megan R Schultz stfu

[@randomguy-rk9mc]

@CODE1KOBRA woah woah chill dude. Mr.Schultz is trying to give some advice. You have to be nearly fluent in English if you want a proper, hardcore job in the US. This man is correct, but why bother to be rude? It's an advice ;;

[@code1kobra570]

random guy looool so then you tell him in a nice way not “can barely speak English learn that first” now that’s rude

[@randomguy-rk9mc]

@@code1kobra570 U said STFU man, to an advising person. And u say rude to me? Facts are facts, and we are telling it to help this Indian individual. I mean, lets say that there is a friend of you who is poor. He says he wants to open a business. Now, that is unreal, thats why we say, "You can't, you don't have enough finance." How is this kind of advice rude? That is inevitably true. If that person does not know what's going on, an advice, even negative ones are the best thing.

[@CN-xt7hj]

Please wear a hat in the kitchen or all is for naught...

[@siraajmuhammed5510]

the main problem most of Chef made foods limit to only beautiful

[@ChefBardo]

this kid is talented but he will fall hard when it happens- not if. when-

[@OneLove-ij2ss]

Nicolas, bitter people like you just love to piss on others current success. Based on your pointless negativity, it leaves us to believe that YOU'VE fallen hard, and can't get back up. So, the easiest thing for you to do is bring others down.

[@klajwh0681]

He better thanks his rich ass mama

[@carolinalomeli9128]

Klajwh0681, haters gonna hate.

[@sectrreptile8703]

@_@ why called him Justin Bieber? because he got blue eyes blond hair and talented? OH GOD PLZ! STOP IT!!!!

[@patriciaalbrecht9814]

I would not dine at his restaurant because he does not adhere to hygiene rules. Do not hair and saliva in my(expensive) food.

[@ash-pr7zj]

he just gone straight to the tweezers, l dont see rhis lad grafting learning at at an entry level chef,years of hard graft and lots of years make a good cook.

[@goxlau3243]

This guy have to comb his hair

[@absarahmed5695]

Why this dude sound like a 35 year old !

[@titikparwati9559]

wishing he meet gordon ramsay to do cooking

[@julianaalcantara3595]

Farinaaaaa 🤢

[@จิรภิญญาด่านกระโทก]

😘😘😘😘🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭

[@grantgrant8554]

He needs a hair cut or something

[@yukishywol]

He s hawt wtf

[@xeniosm4549]

I am sure you are a great cook for your age, but cooking needs experience kid.

[@AdrenaWest787]

Please use gloves when working with food. Germs are contagious . Mind you ,this all a good beginning for you , but please expose yourself to other countries and treval . You will learn allot and how to makes a variety of different dishes. It's not sorely about the money , It's about beginning cultures together.

[@fireballs1000]

Eat the rich

[@rht100]

His restaurant was awful; he needs to spend more time in other places.