Einat Admony, also known as the ultimate balaboosta, (meaning “perfect housewife” in Yiddish) is the chef and owner of Balaboosta, the fine-dining Middle Eastern restaurant; Kish-Kash, New York’s first couscous bar; and the beloved falafel chain, Taim. She is also the author of two cookbooks: Balaboosta, and the upcoming Shuk (Fall 2019), with Artisan Books.

Einat, named a “fiercely determined chef” by The New York Times, grew up in Tel Aviv, worked as a cook in the Israeli Army, walked away from college after two months, roamed around Germany as a gypsy, then packed up her life to move to New York City. Now, after 20+ years in New York, Einat persists in her work and expansion with her new ventures, including Kish-Kash. Hand rolled couscous, deemed “fine as sand” by Eater, is served fresh there every day and is a perfect example of how Einat continues to innovate and push the food scene.

“Cooking is a way to express my love and compassion for those around me,” Einat says. “It is also a way to connect the past with the present and future. The flavors, the smells, the sounds, they flood me with memories and bring me instantly back to my childhood. And make me feel whole.”

When she is not at one of her restaurants, she can be found at home in Brooklyn, cooking for her two children, Liam and Mika, her husband and business partner, Stefan Nafziger, plus, a constant flow of dinner parties with family and friends.

Bombay Sandwich Company was founded at the Smorgasburg food festival in Brooklyn in 2012. We opened our first brick and mortar shop in Manhattan in 2014 and are proud to be called “Best Sandwich,” “Best Bowl,” “Best Indian,” and of course, “Best Chai.”

We’ve been featured on The Cooking Channel, Food Network, and CBS, and have even fed global tastemakers like Bono, Julianne Moore, Fred Armisen, Anne Hathaway, and Yoko Ono. And most recently, we were honored to be visited by Deepak Chopra.

While we launched vegan, we’ve since expanded our menu to offer both vegan and vegetarian dishes. Today, we are best known for innovating new recipes, introducing chef-crafted modern Indian sandwiches.

In fact, Bombay Sandwich Co. was one of the first in NYC to introduce a tikka burger! We love creating in the kitchen, and we are honored to continue to introduce new flavor profiles to our audience.

Notably, our cafe is also home to a sister restaurant, Bombay Curry Co.

Bombay Curry Co. was created with love by our Bombay Sandwich Co. owner and operator, Nisha. Inspired by recipes from home and propelled by the need for quality takeout and delivery options during the pandemic, Nisha crafted a virtual restaurant brand that would bring high-quality curries to homes across the city.

Maria Loi’s mischievous grin, sparkling eyes, and culinary prowess have made her a food superstar; she is a popular television chef in Greece and the author of more than 36 cookbooks, and over 150 magazine editions. She owns an exquisite gourmet restaurant in idyllic Nafpaktos and has a line of Maria Loi dinnerware and kitchen appliances. The Chef’s Club of Greece, a worldwide culinary organization has recognized her as the Global Ambassador of Greek Gastronomy; in June of 2016, she was unanimously re-elected for a second term as the official Ambassador.

Maria now shares her expertise and knowledge with American audiences. She quickly earned a reputation as the U.S. leader in authentic Greek cuisine and ingredients: In March 2012, Maria was invited to cook for President Obama, Vice President Biden, and 250 honored guests at the White House.

Chef Loi brought her unique approach to Greek cuisine to Loi Estiatorio, her flagship restaurant in the heart of Manhattan, an ode to the flavors of Greece (opened February 2015). In 2016, Chef Loi was the inaugural chef of The Ritz-Carlton Central Park South’s Kitchen-Takeover series; she was a panelist at the Mediterranean Diet Roundtable Conference in LA, with professors from Harvard University and other decision-makers in the food industry. She was a judge at the inaugural Ernesto Illy Coffee Awards at the UN, and traveled to Australia as a featured chef for OMG Week, a weeklong festival in Melbourne curated by Chef George Calombaris, with the top Greek chefs from around the world.

Fuku is the fried chicken joint from chef David Chang – on a mission to change the way people think about fast casual.

Fuku, as a concept, was built off of this really delicious thigh-meat spicy fried chicken sandwich and has since grown to serve a variety of fried chicken offerings, sides, and slushies. guided by many of the same principles that David Chang instills in all his restaurants, Fuku is focused on offering guests approachable, tasty food that draws from both Asian and American influences.

What started as a secret sandwich at Momofuku Noodle Bar in NYC soon grew into FUKUSANITY when Fuku opened its own store in 2015 in the east village.

Over the ensuing years, Fuku opened storefronts at Hudson Yards and Rockefeller Center in NYC, as well as stadiums, arenas, and ghost kitchens throughout the country.