Chef Eric Greenspan
Eric Greenspan graduated both from Berkeley’s Haas School of Business and the Le Cordon Bleu Culinary School in Paris; he has trained with celebrated chefs including Alain Ducasse, David Bouley, and Joachim Splichal. While Executive Chef at the renowned Patina he was named one of Angeleno Magazines “Eight Hot Chefs” and his kitchen garnered both a 27/30 rating and a “Top French Restaurant” from Zagat. 944 Magazine recognized Eric as one of the “Most Buzzworthy Chefs in America.”
In spring 2007, Eric opened The Foundry on Melrose to similarly rave reviews and resounding success. The Foundry was runner-up for Los Angeles Magazine’s “Best New Restaurant.” With its swanky bar, live music, and unsurpassed cuisine, the restaurant earned a swath of accolades. Condé Nast Traveler named it Best New Restaurant; it made Los Angeles Magazine’s Top 75, as well as the “Essential 99” restaurants of then LA Weekly’s Pulitzer-winning food critic Jonathan Gold. The Foundry was also a semi-finalist for The James Beard Foundation’s Best New Restaurant in America.
Eric was recently the host of National Geographic's "Eric Greenspan Is Hungry." He has competed on numerous culinary competition and food-reality shows, including Food Network’s "Cutthroat Kitchen All-Stars," "Chopped All-Stars," "Guy's Grocery Games All-Stars," “The Next Iron Chef,” “The Next Iron Chef: Redemption," and“Iron Chef America” where he defeated Bobby Flay in a throw-down.
Greenspan has been profiled by such publications as The New York Times, Wine Spectator, Art Culinaire, Los Angeles Confidential, Angeleno, and Los Angeles Magazine. He also won the 2008 Grilled Cheese Invitational. Eric is a partner in Midcourse Hospitality Group, along with Jim Hustead and James Moon and is the Executive Chef and owner of Greenspan’s Grilled Cheese, The Roof On Wilshire and Maré (two Los Angeles locations). Midcourse Hospitality Group also recently partnered with chef Nick Erven, on the plant based restaurant, Erven. Eric lives in LA with his wife Jamie, and son, Max.