Einat Admony

Einat Admony
Einat Admony standing in front of a mural of her mother in her restaurant, Balaboosta, in New York
Born1971 (age 52–53)
Israel
SpouseStefan Nafziger
Children2
Culinary career
Rating(s)
Current restaurant(s)
    • Balaboosta
Television show(s)

Einat Admony (Hebrew: עינת אדמוני, born 1971) is an Israeli-American chef, restaurateur, author and television personality. Born in Israel to a family of Iraqi, Iranian, and Yemenite Jewish descent, Admony grew up in Bnei Brak. She served in the Israel Defense Forces as a driver and cook before pursuing a culinary career.

Admony has opened several restaurants in the United States, including Balaboosta in New York City and the Taim franchise. She has appeared on the Food Network's reality show Chopped as both a contestant and a judge. In 2019, Admony began performing comedy at the Comedy Cellar in New York.

Early life

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Admony was born in Israel on May 19, 1971,[1] and was raised in the city of Bnei Brak.[2] She is of Iraqi, Iranian, and Yemenite Jewish descent.[3][4] She served in the IDF as a driver and cook.[5][6]

Career

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Admony was one of the first chefs to introduce Israeli cuisine to Americans.[7][8] She has opened 13 restaurants throughout her career.[9] Currently she exclusively operates her flagship New York eatery, Balaboosta.[10] The Taim franchise, with 15 locations across the U.S.,[11] was founded by Einat and later expanded by an investment from Chipotle, the Mexican fast-food chain.[12]

She appeared on the Food Network’s reality television show Chopped[13] three times and won twice.[14] Admony returned as a judge on the show.[15] Host Ted Allen lists Admony as one of the four most memorable women to compete on the show.[16]

In 2019, Admony took comedy lessons and began performing at the Comedy Cellar in New York.[17] She is a contributor to Epicurious.[18]

In 2022, Admony competed in Season 3 of Guy Fieri's Tournament of Champions.[19]

Awards and recognition

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She was selected by Time Out New York as one of “ten women who make NY a better place,”[20][21] and as a “2020 Rising Female Chef.”[22]

In 2014 she was named a Great Immigrant by the Carnegie Corporation of New York.[23] Also in 2014, her Bar Bolonat restaurant in the West Village was named “Best New Restaurant” by the New York Times.[24]

In 2020 she was a semifinalist for the James Beard Awards, in the Best Chef New York State category.[25]

Bibliography

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  • with Janna Gur. Shuk: From Market to Table, the Heart of Israeli Home Cooking. New York: Artisan (2019). ISBN 1579656722
  • Balaboosta. New York: Artisan (2013). ISBN 1579655009

Personal

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She is married to Stefan Nafziger, who is also her business partner. They have two children.[26][27] The family lives in Brooklyn.[28][29]

References

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  1. ^ Admony, Einat [@chefeinat] (19 May 2021). "Doesn't feels like it but I guess it never does..
    I've been blessed by enjoying my life and now I'm looking forward to keep on doing so.
    Thank you everyone for your kind words. ❤️"
    . Retrieved 3 August 2021 – via Instagram.
  2. ^ "Einat Admony". Wines of Israel. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  3. ^ Steinberg, Jessica. "This balaboosta reigns over her own Israeli food empire, in New York City". www.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  4. ^ "Einat Admony's Rosh Hashanah Table". Jewish Food Society. 13 September 2019. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  5. ^ "Eating Off Duty with Einat Admony". MICHELIN Guide. 16 September 2018. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  6. ^ "Einat Admony on shuks, stand-up, and running restaurants". www.saltandspine.com. Archived from the original on 13 August 2020. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  7. ^ "Chef Einat Admony Dishes on Morning Sex and Shabbat Dinner". Kveller. 29 January 2019. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  8. ^ "How to Make Hummus Like Balaboosta's Einat Admony". Tablet Magazine. 6 November 2014. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  9. ^ Silverman, Anav (25 December 2018). "Chef Einat Admony is building up a New York eatery empire". Israel21c. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  10. ^ "The Gentlewoman – Einat Admony". thegentlewoman.co.uk. Archived from the original on 16 April 2018. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  11. ^ "From Shuk to Table With Chefs Einat Admony and Janna Gur". Hadassah Magazine. 23 October 2019. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  12. ^ "Star Israeli chef in New York teams with ex-Chipotle execs on falafel franchise". Haaretz. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  13. ^ "Chopped Champions: Admony retains her crown | Food & Drink, Blogs, The Feed blog | reviews, guides, things to do, film". Time Out New York. Archived from the original on 16 October 2013. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  14. ^ "New York City's Queen of Falafel Is Unstoppable". www.shethinx.com. Archived from the original on 29 September 2020. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  15. ^ podcasters, Omny Studio is the complete audio management solution for; Stations, Radio. "Chef and Restaurateur Einat Admony - The Ultimate Balaboosta - One Woman Kitchen - Omny.fm". omny.fm. Retrieved 24 May 2020.[permanent dead link]
  16. ^ "Ted Allen's Most-Memorable Chopped Competitors". Food Com. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  17. ^ Admony, Einat (3 September 2019). "I'm a Chef Who Loves Comedy—So I Became a Stand-Up Comedian". Bon Appétit. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  18. ^ "Einat Admony Bio, Latest Articles & Recipes – Epicurious.com". Epicurious. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  19. ^ Rosario, Alexandra Del (18 January 2022). "Guy Fieri's 'Tournament Of Champions' Renewed For Season 3 At Food Network". Deadline.com. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  20. ^ "Balaboosta". Time Out New York. 26 September 2018. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  21. ^ "Eat brunch with Taïm chef Einat Admony at her own Fort Greene home". Time Out New York. 8 August 2014. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  22. ^ "12 rising female chefs you should know". From the Grapevine. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  23. ^ York, Carnegie Corporation of New. "Einat Admony". Carnegie Corporation of New York. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  24. ^ "Admony, Einat". Food Network & Cooking Channel New York City Wine & Food Festival presented by Capital One | October 8–11, 2020. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  25. ^ Warerkar, Tanay (26 February 2020). "Here Are NYC's 2020 James Beard Awards Semifinalists". Eater NY. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  26. ^ "What 1 drag artist misses the most about performing in public". TODAY.com. 21 May 2020. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  27. ^ "Chef brings New Yorkers a taste of the Mediterranean". From the Grapevine. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  28. ^ embassies.gov.il https://embassies.gov.il/la/NewsAndEvents/Pages/A-taste-of-N-Y--in-L-A--with-Israeli-Chef-Einat-Admony-.aspx. Retrieved 24 May 2020. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  29. ^ "Einat Admony". www.kosher.com. Retrieved 24 May 2020.