Brooke Williamson’s birthday post for Bobby Flay offers a rare glimpse into a relationship growing on its own terms.

The celebrity chef shared a carousel of recent photos of the couple together, as the ‘Beat Bobby Flay’ star turned 61

Brooke Williamson is celebrating boyfriend Bobby Flay’s birthday with a special tribute.

The Beat Bobby Flay star turned 61 on Wednesday, Dec. 10, marking his first birthday with Williamson as an official couple since the pair took their romance public in March.

“HBD my love 🎈,” Williamson, 47, captioned an Instagram carousel of four photos showing the couple together over the past year.

Bobby’s daughter Sophie Flay, 29, commented on the post with a trio of heart emojis, as did the couple’s Bobby’s Triple Threat costar Ayesha Nurdjaja.

The previous day, he gave Williamson another Instagram shoutout when answering fans’ questions about Beat Bobby Flay: Holiday Throwdown.

“Is it weird to compete against Brooke,” asked one viewer, to which Bobby responded, “Not really. She’s fun to compete against because she’s so competitive.”

Williamson reshared the post on her own Instagram Stories, writing, “Obvi.”

In August, Williamson shared an Instagram post featuring highlights from her own birthday celebration, with Bobby and other loved ones joining in the festivities.

The two celebrity chefs sparked engagement rumors when Bobby gave the Sun-Kissed Cooking author a diamond ring in October.

However, shortly after Bobby shared a photo of Williamson wearing the ring on Oct. 14, a source close to the couple exclusively revealed to PEOPLE that the two Food Network stars were not engaged.

Speaking with PEOPLE days later at the New York City Wine & Food Festival, Williamson noted that there wasn’t “a huge story behind” the ring.

“[Bobby is] a very generous, wonderful, romantic man and it was a really thoughtful gift, and that’s what it is,” she said.

During a visit to Elvis Duran and the Morning Show in November, Bobby addressed the jewelry, explaining, “It’s a commitment ring. I’m not engaged.”

He insisted that there are no wedding plans in the works.

“We both don’t want to get married again,” Bobby said. “It’s okay. So, like, it’s great having a life partner. And so I wanted to give her something significant to make her feel committed. That’s all.”

Host Elvis Duran praised Flay’s “beautiful, beautiful family,” including Sophie, who was present during the interview.

Bobby welcomed Sophie during his previous marriage to Kate Connelly, and Williamson shares her teenage son Hudson with her ex-husband Nick Roberts.

“Yes, I do, but Brooke also has a 17-year-old son,” Bobby replied. “It’s all coming together like The Brady Bunch.”

Bobby reflected on why their relationship works during an interview with PEOPLE in June.

“We are both in the restaurant business,” Flay said. “We have tons to talk about in terms of the things that we love to do besides just go and have dinner every once in a while. So it’s been really great.”

He added, “And one of the things I really like about being in a relationship with Brooke is that she’s great to bounce things off of. Like we ask each other’s opinion about things that we’re doing food food-wise or restaurant-wise wise or business-wise, all the time. So it’s really nice to have kind of a best friend that you’re dating that can also be helpful answering the questions that you have.”

As their relationship continues to evolve in the public eye, those close to the couple say Bobby and Brooke have settled into an easy rhythm—one that feels natural, supportive and refreshingly unforced. Friends note that despite their demanding careers, the two chefs make a deliberate effort to carve out time for simple routines: quiet mornings with coffee, late-night tastings in each other’s test kitchens, or spontaneous weekend trips built around new restaurant openings.

Professionally, their partnership has also sparked curiosity in the food world, with many wondering whether a formal collaboration might someday be on the horizon. While both insist they’re happy focusing on their individual projects, insiders say their creative chemistry is undeniable. “They push each other in the best way,” one colleague shares. “There’s a mutual respect there that makes them stronger, both personally and professionally.”

For now, the pair seem content to move at their own pace, free from outside pressure. Bobby, who has often been guarded about his private life, appears more relaxed and grounded, while Brooke has expressed gratitude for having someone who understands both the passion and the chaos of life in the culinary spotlight. Together, they’ve built a bond that feels grounded, genuine, and built to last.