Style Crush: Chef Eden Grinshpan

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It’s immediately obvious that Eden Grinshpan makes the best kind of happy hour buddy. Within five minutes of introducing myself at the downtown Manhattan Mediterranean spot Vic’s, Grinshpan — who’s sitting propped up high on a barstool — has already quizzed me about my apartment, my plans that weekend, and where my shoes are from. Her long, light brown hair swings as she leans in emphatically, making everything she says feel like it’s the most important thing in the world.

Over the past few years, this friendly, familiar vibe has won the 29-year-old cook and TV host a loyal following of hungry fans. But, as Grinshpan explained with a self-deprecating laugh, her success came about a bit haphazardly. She said that she "applied on a whim" to London's Le Cordon Bleu per her father's suggestion, and was shocked when she was admitted. After graduation just a few years ago (and a stint at New York City vegan bakery Babycakes), the Toronto native made her Cooking Channel debut in the 2012 series Eden Eats.

The show followed Grinshpan as she traveled to a new city for a 24-hour culinary tour. She's since hosted Cooking Channel's Log On & Eat With Eden Grinshpan and popped up on VH1's Morning Buzz; in her off time, she pals around with the likes of Rebecca Minkoff and Lauren Bush (whose FEED Organization Grinshpan supports). It's not surprising that her warm persona has earned her a cult following. Her 17,600 Instagram followers are treated to a goofy inside look into Grinshpan's #foodporn lifestyle; she also regularly updates her blog Edeneats.com with recipes and videos.

When we met, Grinshpan was wearing a pair of vintage Levi's jeans from Brandy Melville ("my new obsession," she said), a buttery black Acne leather jacket, and a white Zara turtleneck, her feet clad in black Alexander Wang motorcycle boots. Grinshpan said that she chooses her outfits depending on how she happens to feel that morning. "The best thing about fashion is how what you wear can affect your energy for the day," she explained. "My plans when I wear jeans and leather jacket are totally different from when I wear my high-waisted ‘70s pants. It gives you a different energy and a different attitude, and I think your outfit really affects your kind of approach."

Over glasses of white wine (she charmed the bartender into a complimentary second round), Grinshpan gave us a rundown on the serendipitous series of events that led her to her current gigs. She also shared her packing tips, what she wears when she's cooking on live TV, and obviously, her style philosophy.

What was your style like growing up?

I've always been a creature of comfort. I wear clothes that I'm comfortable in because they allow me to be my kooky, crazy self and never hold me back. When you're uncomfortable, you wouldn't want to do the splits in the middle of the hall. I went through a phase where I wore pig slippers in high school. [Laughs] I've always had an interest in fashion; but, when I got to New York, it opened my eyes to creating your own fashion sense.

You can wear whatever you want here.

I've seen people wear the craziest things, but they wear them with so much confidence that I find myself wanting to wear what they are wearing. New York City has such a fierce fashion culture that it's opened my eyes and inspired me to really just comfortably stand behind my choices.

What's your style philosophy now?

I'm a total T-shirt and jeans kind of a girl. I have my staples, and then I'll dabble in little pieces to give it an extra oomph. But give me an amazing leather jacket, awesome jeans, good boots, and that's my thing. It just feels right. I'm a true believer in spending money on the essentials. My leather jacket is Acne; it's so soft and has a sort of bagginess that works both during the day and at night. My purse is a vintage Louis Vuitton, which I snagged from my mother. She bought it 30 years ago and never wore it! So I took it.

Switching gears, did you cook as a kid?

I never really cooked growing up — I maybe baked a few things — but it was never really a passion of mine. I was very active; I used to dance, I used to perform, all that stuff. For some reason in high school something changed. In grade 10 I discovered The Food Network, and it became my obsession. I came home every day from school and would just watch hours of Jamie Oliver and Ina Garten and Nigella Lawson.

So while everyone else at your school was watching TRL, you were watching The Food Network?

[Laughs] Yes! They were like my superstars, making it all seem so easy and delicious. The Food Network hosts motivated me to get into the kitchen. I was obsessed with Barefoot Contessa, so I started out just putting butter on everything.

What made you apply to Le Cordon Bleu?

I liked school, but more for the social aspect. When it came time to apply for university, my dad said to me, "You seem like you really like to cook, why not go to culinary school?" I didn't even know that was an option. My parents were so supportive, to the point where my dad was like, "Why don't you go to the Cordon Bleu in England?" So I applied and I got in, and I moved to England when I was 18. When I went, in 2004, there weren't a lot of people my age doing it, and all my classmates were awesome! 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.

How did you end up parlaying school into a TV career?

When I graduated culinary school I wasn't quite ready to start working. So I ended up backpacking through India and Southeast Asia for a year; I lived in Israel for a year. I actually got into television when I was in India. I was volunteering at an orphanage while I was there, and they had this café that was vacant. I wanted to reopen it so that they could bring money into the orphanage. I did that and I taped the whole thing: the process of opening it and running it and working with the kids in the kitchen. My friend was randomly in India at the time, and she was the one who filmed it. It turned out to be a really cool video.

After I returned home I still wasn't sure what I wanted to do. My sister had gotten into NYU, and I was like, "Maybe I should just move to New York, too?" I randomly decided to move here and got a job at Babycakes in the Lower East Side. They sponsored me with a visa, and I got my video in the right hands. I was able to shoot a show with a woman who came into the bakery one day — she ended up becoming my business partner — and we ended up selling the show to the Cooking Channel.

Your job essentially entails cooking and eating interesting, unique foods. Were you always an adventurous eater?

My mom laughs because she says I was the pickiest eater growing up. I was so difficult, and now it's a complete joke between us. Now I cook for a living, and it's easy for me to try things. I honestly think she's really surprised I got into food.