Brooke Williamson Says Ring from Bobby Flay Was ‘Really Thoughtful’: ‘A Very Generous, Wonderful, Romantic Man’ (Exclusive)

Brooke Williamson is sharing her reaction to a special gift from boyfriend Bobby Flay.

Last week, Flay posted an Instagram photo of the Sunkissed Cooking author’s hand in her jean pocket and a big diamond ring sticking out, writing simply, “it’s casual.”

Speaking with PEOPLE at the Grand Tasting: After Dark presented by Montchevre Goat Cheese at the New York City Wine and Food Festival on Saturday, Oct. 18, Williamson says “there’s not a huge story behind” the ring.

“He’s a very generous, wonderful, romantic man and it was a really thoughtful gift and that’s what it is,” she explains.

Williamson, who was co-hosting the culinary event with Flay at the Invesco QQQ Festival Campus in the Seaport, also weighed in on why the pair’s relationship works.

“I think respect and friendship and a deep understanding of who each other are,” she says, adding, “Foundational respect for each other.”

The couple took the stage midway through the celebration and then led the crowd in a dance party, during which they even shared a kiss.

Williamson told PEOPLE she was most looking forward to the dancing during the event, which featured music from DJ Tokyo Rose, Flay’s personal favorite.

“I love to dance,” she said. “Bobby loves to dance.”

While Flay’s Oct. 14 photo of the diamond ring he gave Williamson initially sparked engagement rumors, eagle-eyed fans were quick to point out that the ring was on her right hand per the tattoos visible in the shot.

A source close to the couple confirmed to PEOPLE that they are not engaged.

“It was a gift from Bobby,” the source said of the ring. “I’ve never seen them happier and they are fully committed to one another.”

The two celebrity chefs went public with their romance in March.

“They have been friends for a while and recently decided to jump in,” a source told PEOPLE at the time. “Her divorce last year probably gave them some additional shared experiences and over the last few weeks, love bloomed.” 

In the months since, they’ve been seen kissing at the U.S. Open and spending Williamson’s 47th birthday together.

Flay opened up about their relationship in an interview with PEOPLE in June, saying, “I’ve been friends with Brooke forever.”

He also reflected on the similarities the two Food Network personalities share.

“I love working with Brooke,” he said. “We have a lot in common. We’re very lucky. We’re both chefs. We both have kids. We’re both parents.”

Williamson has a son, Hudson, from her previous marriage to Nick Roberts, and Flay has a daughter, Sophie Flay, from his marriage to Kate Connelly.  

“We are both in the restaurant business,” Flay added. “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. 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 wise or restaurant 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.”