Star Kitchen: Jose Garces' Farmhouse Kitchen

Chef Jose Garces shows us around the kitchen of his Pennsylvania farmhouse.

From: Food Network Magazine

Photo By: Jason Varney

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Iron Chef Jose Garces knows a thing or two about building kitchens: He helped design them at each of his 17 restaurants, so when he had to plan this kitchen at his farmhouse in Bucks County, Pa., he was more than prepared. The house is a getaway for the Garces family — Jose and his wife, Beatriz, a dentist, and their two kids, Olivia and Andrés. But it does double duty as an event space for Jose's charity, The Garces Foundation, which helps provide health resources to Philadelphia immigrants. Because fundraising dinners can include as many as 75 people, Jose says: "I wanted to have the capacity to cook a lot of food. Oven space is key." He installed two wall convection ovens, plus a 48-inch BlueStar range and a powerful stainless steel Prizer hood that can vent like nobody's business. The hood is great for when he's making paella and tapas for dozens of guests, and it's even better for nights like one recent Saturday when he and the kids cranked out late-night pizza and cookies. "We finished at midnight," he recalls. "It was epic!"

Twin Ovens and Repurposed Island

The chef chose BlueStar ovens for their commercial-grade power. They come in every imaginable color, but Jose went with white to match his marble countertop. The wood-topped island was originally built for Jose's Spanish restaurant Amada in Philadelphia. He didn't end up needing it there, so he took it home, added casters and now uses it as an extra prep area.

Antique Tools

Jose has a growing collection of vintage scales like the ones on his counter. He keeps other old kitchen finds around the rest of the house, including a coffee grinder in the dining room.

Big Griddle and Stone Flooring

Jose insisted on a range with a griddle — essential for weekend breakfasts, when he turns into a short-order cook. He'll often make French toast, pancakes, bacon and eggs, all on the same morning.

He installed Montauk slate floors in a matte finish. He loves the texture but says they're tough to keep clean. Next time, he's going glossier.