In the world of It-girl cooking, no one is doing it like Eden Grinshpan. The Top Chef Canada host has made a name for herself with her candid culinary lifestyle brand Eden Eats, inviting followers into an unedited look at her life and to have a seat at her inspired and ultrachic dinner table. Today, Grinshpan is preparing for the release of her newest cookbook, Tahini Baby, which offers an even closer look at her joyful, playful and always forgiving approach to creating Middle Eastern and Mediterranean inspired meals. Ahead of the book’s official launch, we chatted with Grinshpan about her creative process, her pro tips for hosting a dinner party and her insights on making the kitchen the place you always want to be.
Photography by Chris Bernabeo
What was your creative process like developing Tahini Baby?
I always knew I wanted to create a veg-based cookbook. Our family isn’t vegetarian, but over time the food I cooked at home just started to become mostly that. We embraced the shift and felt like nothing was missing — if anything, we felt better, fuller and more satisfied after every meal. I wanted to share more of that in my work, on social media and in this book. Tahini Baby has over 100 veg-based recipes that will help you create the most bright and satisfying table spread imaginable.
Do you have a favorite Tahini Baby recipe?
I really can’t choose because all of these recipes are so near and dear to my heart… but if you were to come over for a fun introduction recipe to the book, it would be my ultimate shroom shawarma. The mushrooms get the star treatment with all the seasoning and searing, which brings out the most incredible meaty texture and flavor. These get packed into a fresh laffa (a soft and chewy Iraqi flatbread. I’m obsessed with that recipe, as well. They are so easy to make and so tender) and covered with all the dreamy Tahini Baby condiments, starting with my garlicky tahini, which takes every dish to the next level. It also has my celery zhoug, amba pepper sauce and a nice heaping spoonful of chopped veg salad. It really is a choose-your-own-adventure kind of meal, but any way you do it, it will be absolutely delicious.
Also, in this book I finally shared my mother’s cheesecake recipe that people have been asking about for years. It’s a special one.
Photography by Kayla Rocca
What’s the No. 1 takeaway you hope home cooks get from Tahini Baby?
What I really wanted to achieve with this book is to showcase how easy it is to bring bold, approachable and crowd-pleasing vegetarian dishes into your life. I applied all of my favorite simple flavors and techniques so every home cook will be able to make these recipes and weave them into their day-to-day lives. I’m not trying to push a vegetarian lifestyle, but I am showing how easy it is to eat veg-forward food that is tasty and will make you forget about meat altogether. I want people who grab this book to create bountiful, colorful food that will make them feel great and also make them look like a badass in the kitchen.
Any pro tips for hosting a fabulous dinner party?
I always host family style so when my guests sit down, there’s already a gorgeous spread prepared upon arrival and everyone can dig into whatever catches their eye. This usually includes a fresh bread, like my Jerusalem bagel dinner roll. It should be baked first thing in the morning when you entertain and served with a couple dips that can easily be made in advance and plated/dressed with condiments, dips and all the noshes, like my safta’s baba or whipped feta with crispy herbs and honey. Next is a salad like my crispy spiced chickpea crunch salad with pomegranate and a side like the harissa and honey carrots with gremolata and labneh. Then, for the star of the show, offer something like the herb-stuffed peppers in a black lime sauce. Finish strong with my creamy and cold sage-honey semifreddo.
Important note: Every dinner should be served with garlicky tahini, please and thank you.
Photography by Chris Bernabeo
Does Eden Grinshpan have a go-to kitchen hack?
Yes. Life hack: Preparing dessert in advance is a game changer. Also, lists are your friend! Make a list of what needs to get done, I’m talking every single step. It will change your life.
Any life advice you’re willing to share?
Use your pretty plates, drink that expensive wine you have been saving, wear all your nice clothes and hang with your favorite people. Live every day to the fullest and surround yourself with people that make you laugh and feel good.
Finally, what’s the funniest thing you’ve heard recently?
I recently watched Dumb and Dumber for the first time in forever and literally every line had me laughing. The comedy in that movie has really held up.
