Bobby Flay Says Marriage Is ‘Off the Table’ but He’s ‘Interested in a Life Partner’

Bobby Flay is looking for a life partner.

During an October 29 appearance on Kristin Cavallari’s podcast Let’s be honestthe chef has opened up about what he’s looking for in his next relationship. (PEOPLE first reported his split from writer Christina Pérez in June after three years of dating.)

Cavallari (37) asked Flay (59) whose latest book it was Bobby Flay: Chapter One now it’s out — if marriage is “completely off the table.”

“Is it off the table? If you asked me today, I would probably say, yes. I don’t know,” Flay said. “It wasn’t the best situation for me. However, I don’t feel like I need to do it again. I have an amazing daughter who is 28. I won’t have any more children as far as I know.”

But there is something that interests him. “I would certainly be interested in a life partner. But I don’t think it necessarily requires documentation,” Flay added.

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Cavallari, who agreed with those thoughts on marriage, also asked if Flay had noticed any patterns in his past divorces. Flay was married to Debra Ponzek from 1991 to 1993, Kate Connelly from 1995 to 1998 (with whom he has a daughter, Sophie), and Stephanie March from 2005 to 2015.

“They were completely different,” he admitted. “I haven’t been married for 10 years now. I feel more comfortable being single. I think there’s less pressure.”

“Once you sign a document that says, ‘You’re together now,’ something changes,” he said. “When you try to explain it to people who have never been married, they don’t know what you’re talking about. They ask, ‘What’s the difference?’ And I’m like well, there’s a difference, but I can’t put my finger on it.”

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When discussing the current status of the relationship, Flay asked Cavallari for advice.

“Honestly, I don’t know what to do. I’m alone and what does that mean? Should you go back right now? Should you start dating people? Can’t you just go out and have a party with your friends?” he thought.

“That’s my favorite because, again, there’s no pressure, I don’t have to say ‘I’m dating this person,’ ‘I didn’t want to tell you I’m dating this person. ‘ It’s just easier.”

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After the split with Pérez, the Defeated Bobby Flay In July, the star spoke briefly with PEOPLE about his new single status.

“I’m relaxed right now,” Flay said at a golf event. “I mean, I don’t really have anything to say about it. It’s still kind of new to me.”

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Source: HIS Education