Einat Admony

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

Admony was one of the first chefs to introduce Israeli cuisine to Americans.[7][8] She has opened 13 restaurants throughout her career.[9] Her New York eateries include Taim Falafel, Kish-Kash, and Balaboosta.[10] The Taim franchise, with six locations across the U.S.,[11] was made possible 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 will compete in Season 3 of Guy Fieri's Tournament of Champions.[19]

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]

• 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

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]