Exploring America’s Diverse Ethnic Communities

This food-obsessed travel host lives for adventure. On Eden Eats, she travels coast to coast uncovering the country’s vibrant and lesser-known global food scenes — from a Kurdish halal market in Nashville to a Bosnian bakery and a Lebanese butcher in Phoenix. We spoke with Eden about her path from culinary school to television, America’s ethnic hotspots and her favorite places to eat in New York City. Catch Eden on the Cooking Channel’s All-Star Holiday Special for seasonal episodes and appearances.

AndrewZimmern.com: What sparked your interest in cooking?

Eden Grinshpan: Believe it or not, I was a bit of a troublemaker in high school and a chronic procrastinator. In tenth grade I discovered the Food Network and became completely hooked. Growing up in Toronto with Food Network Canada meant I watched shows like Barefoot Contessa, Jamie Oliver, Nigella Lawson and Iron Chef Japan almost constantly. I’ve always loved baked goods and anything with butter, so I began baking cakes, cupcakes and cookies. There was nothing more satisfying than bringing something I’d made to friends or family. When it came time to apply for university, culinary school felt like the natural choice — I wanted to put my energy where my passion was.

AZ.com: You went to culinary school in London. Did you plan on becoming a chef?

EG: Yes — that was the plan. I arrived at culinary school with a basic confidence shaped by TV and cookbooks, but I quickly learned how different real kitchen life is. I’ll never forget our chef demonstrating how to julienne and clipping the tip of his finger off. He wrapped it up and finished the day before going to the hospital — a pretty intense introduction to kitchen culture. Culinary school taught me the foundational skills that let me approach nearly any cuisine, and I graduated in both pastry and cuisine. After school I wasn’t ready to settle down, so I traveled — India, Southeast Asia, and a stretch living in Israel. One of the best parts of this field is that you can take your passion for food anywhere and keep learning from the people you meet.

AZ.com: Where did the idea for Eden Eats come from?

EG: While backpacking in India I volunteered at an orphanage in Rishikesh, at the base of the Himalayas. The orphanage had a cafe that wasn’t operating, so I re-opened it as a volunteer project and videotaped the process. When I returned from India I edited that footage into a 15-minute reel and brought it to New York City. I’ve always had the travel bug, and I wanted a project that combined travel, people and food. One day someone walked into the bakery where I worked and we started talking about a show concept: meeting immigrants and seeing how they preserve and recreate their culture through food in America. It fit perfectly with my passion for travel and sharing meals with new friends.

AZ.com: You’ve traveled the country in search of ethnic cuisine. Any cities that surprised you?

EG: Absolutely — almost every city surprises me, which is one of my favorite things about the show. Locals often tell me they had no idea about the ethnic diversity right in their own neighborhoods and are thrilled to discover authentic eateries they’d somehow missed. That reaction makes me proud that the show encourages people to explore new cuisines close to home. Nashville stands out: many people think only of BBQ and music, but we found a significant Somalian refugee community and a large Kurdish population — so much rich culinary culture exists beyond the city’s stereotypical image.

AZ.com: What message do you hope viewers take away from Eden Eats?

EG: I want people to be inspired to learn about other cultures and try new foods. Eden Eats highlights how multicultural America has become — it’s not just burgers and fries. Through food and the people who make it, you can travel the world without leaving the country. Food connects immigrants to their heritage and offers everyone else a chance to share in those traditions. Visiting a neighborhood restaurant can be its own small journey into another culture.

AZ.com: Five favorite places to eat in NYC

1. Pho Bang: A warm, family-run spot with great pho and pork buns.
2. Despaña: A Spanish specialty store that imports Spanish goods, serves tapas and wine in the back and carries a selection of Spanish wines.
3. Café Mogador: Moroccan and Middle Eastern cuisine — excellent tagines and small starters like hummus, babaganoush and spicy carrots.
4. 12 Chairs: An Israeli restaurant best visited on a Saturday for jachnun, a Yemeni slow-baked pastry served with hard-boiled eggs and fresh tomato purée.
5. Dosa Hutt: The best South Indian food I’ve found since leaving India — great dosas, idlis, uttapams, chai and mango lassis.

AZ.com: What’s in your fridge?

EG: I usually keep milk, eggs, Greek yogurt (I’m obsessed), Sriracha, fermented shrimp paste, soup (today it’s borscht), maple syrup, an assortment of cheeses, hummus, Persian cucumbers, tomatoes on the vine, almond butter, unsalted butter, fig jam, sake and white wine. When I travel I bring back ingredients and spices to keep the global flavors flowing at home — my culinary adventures continue even when I’m back in the kitchen.

Eden Grinshpan graduated from Le Cordon Bleu in London with the Grande Diplôme in both pastry and cuisine. After graduating she volunteered in India, including at Ramanas Garden orphanage, where she re-opened a cafe to raise funds and taught children basic culinary skills. Back in New York she completed a management program at The Institute of Culinary Education before working at the bakery Babycakes. Eden is co-owner of EthNicitY Productions.

Photo courtesy of Cooking Channel.