Top Chef Canada is back for season 11, and with it comes a new crop of seasoned culinary geniuses. But as much as we’re watching to see how these 10 new competitors fare with their, ahem, fare, we also can’t wait for the return of the resident judges and host Eden Grinshpan.
Aside from bringing her enthusiasm and charm to the screen, Eden is also deft at putting everyone at ease while making us wish that we, too, could try the delicious food these chefs produce. Her love of food and entertaining is well documented, of course, but here are a few other details you might not know about the host with the most ahead of Top Chef Canada’s return.
She Prefers to Eat With Her Hands
When Eden sits down to a fancy Top Chef Canada dinner, she knows which forks and knives to use. However, when given the choice, she likes to use her hands. “It just makes things intimate,” she told Great Jones Goods. “I feel like, when you get to eat with your hands, it slows things down and gives you that opportunity to have some really great conversation.”
She’s Friends With Gail Simmons
Eden and fellow Canadian/Top Chef personality Gail Simmons are actually good friends. A mutual friend introduced them years ago and they went for a lunch that lasted five hours. “We have so much in common; we went to the same camp and the same dance school and now we’re both on Top Chef. It’s a little crazy,” she told Forward.
She’s All About Body Positivity
Eden uses her social media to share the good stuff, including realistic photos from both of her pregnancies—during and after. “There’s a lot of pressure socially for people to bounce back, and to look amazing and to feel amazing right from the get go,” she told Babe Hatch. “I just don’t think it’s realistic.”
She’s Obsessed With Indian Cuisine
Eden is known for her love of Middle Eastern food, but she also developed a huge appreciation for Indian fare after she backpacked through India. “I didn’t know much about it. Then, when I was there, I had this full-blown experience where I learned about everything all at once: the food, the culture, the music, everything,” she told Made In. “I fell in love. And I’ve been obsessed with Indian cuisine ever since.”
She’s Afraid of Public Speaking
You’d think the outgoing host would have no problem standing in front of a crowd and doing her thing, but Eden is actually afraid of public speaking. Although, she admits she’s gotten better at it over the years.
“It’s hilarious, because I do it for a living,” she told Story + Rain. “I’m afraid of getting on stage in front of hundreds of people with a mic and that’s it.”
She Got Engaged to Her Husband After Five Weeks
Eden had just gone through a breakup when she and Ido Nivron started chatting on Facebook at the suggestion of friends. They met in real life and hit it off immediately. Ido even called his mom after that first date to say he’d found the one. Five weeks later, he proposed. “We both come from parents who fell in love and got married fast,” Eden told Only Natural Diamonds.
Montana Burnett designed her Toronto Home
Eden, Ido, and their two daughters now live in Toronto. According to The Kit, the decor in their home is a feast for the eyes, with Moroccan rugs, pottery, vintage chairs, and travertine (a form of limestone) everywhere. Montana Burnett, a renowned Toronto designer, designed it all. The main attraction is the kitchen, which Eden specifically designed as a space where she can create content.
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She Moved to England When She Was 18
Eden wasn’t really into cooking growing up but became obsessed with food in Grade 10. So when it came time to pick a career post-high school, her dad suggested she try culinary school. She applied to the Cordon Bleu in England and got in. “There weren’t a lot of people my age doing it, and all my classmates were awesome!” she recalled to Racked. “We’d cook together and they’d invite me to their homes and it was so great. It was a lot of growing up right off the bat, but I got to travel to a bunch of different places like Prague.”
There’s One Food She Can’t Stomach
Eden will try almost anything on a plate—she’s even had Balut, a duck egg embryo that’s typically boiled or steamed. However, there’s one food that she just can’t eat. “Tripe,” she revealed to Maxim. “It’s a texture thing. I want to like it, and I just don’t.”
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She’s Developed Solid Advice For Top Chef Canada Hopefuls
As a host, Eden spends a lot of time with the contestants on the show. And she’s realized the best advice over the years: believe in yourself. “Do not second guess yourself,” she told Toronto Guardian. “A lot of second-guessing happens in the middle of a challenge, and the second you start second-guessing yourself, that’s when that dish is doomed. Just be confident, trust your gut, and even if you start second guessing, ignore those thoughts and move forward with the initial plan.”