Today we’d like to introduce you to Eden Batki.
Hi Eden, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I am an artist, photographer, producer, food stylist, and cook. I started doing food pop-ups in my backyard in Echo Park about 12 years ago. I have traveled the world extensively working as a photographer for magazines and producer for CNN on food videos. During Covid, I began cooking Hungarian food and delivering to people all over LA. I am researching my roots as a half Hungarian American while working on a hopeful cookbook that is yet to be published. I have a line of aprons, kitchen towels, and bags called Fava made with fabric I commissioned and made. The images depict women around the world cooking together.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Cooking is never a smooth road in my opinion. I do most everything by myself, including shopping, prepping, meeting with farmers, creating menus, doing the administrative back end work, and cooking, and delivering! Once I got my system down and began using the app minimart to set up my menus and ordering online system it became a bit easier. I never know how many orders I will have until a few days before delivery.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am an extremely creative human so when it comes to cooking, I am very interested in ingredients first and foremost. Hungarian food is something that most people don’t know much about. I take pride in the amount of research I do with ingredients that I find that could be used in Hungarian cooking. I love introducing people to new flavor combinations and showing them what I know and love about food grown in California. Whenever I find a crossover ingredient that could be found in Hungary as well as California. I spend a lot of time looking for producers of Eastern European meats, dairy, and grains. Produce in California is easy and plentiful, and I love blending it all together to make healthy delicious food. I am known for making exciting comforting food with a twist. I am not a trained chef but am proud of how much I take risks with new recipes and underused ingredients. So far, it has been working and people seem to keep ordering my food. Because of my artist background, I come at food from a holistic angle. Color, flavor, and texture are essential and need to be beautiful to the eye and the mouth.
What makes you happy?
Cooking makes me happy. When I can share my love of food and eating with others, I feel I have done something important. I am the epitome of the Jewish Grandma, always wanting to feed you.
Contact Info:
- Email: eden@edenbatki.com
- Website: edenbatki.com
- Instagram: edenbatki
- Facebook: eden batki
- Twitter: edenbatki
- Other: edenbatkiphoto.com
Image Credits:
All photos by Eden Batki except last black and white image by Michael Bailey Gates
