Assaf Elkanna Granit (Hebrew: אסף גרניט; born 20 August 1978) is an Israeli chef and owner of the Parisian restaurant Shabour.[1] In January 2021, Granit was awarded a Michelin star for his Shabour restaurant.[2] It is the first Michelin star awarded to an Israeli restaurant in France.[3]

Assaf Granit
Born (1978-08-20) August 20, 1978 (age 45)
Culinary career
Current restaurant(s)
  • * Machne Yehuda (Jerusalem)
    • The Workshop (HaSadna) (Jerusalem)
    • Gigi Kovela (Jerusalem)
    • Loota (Jerusalem)
    • Yudaleh (Jerusalem)
    • Tzemach (Jerusalem)
    • DKL (Jerusalem)
    • Agrippus (Jerusalem)
    • Lid Ha (Jerusalem)
    • Loota (Tiberias)
    • Beit HaSmachot (Tel Aviv)
    • Palomar (London)
    • Berberè (London)
    • Coal Office (London)
    • Le Balagan (Paris)
    • Shabour (Paris)
    • Baba (Paris)
    • Tekes (Paris)
    • Berta (Berlin)
    • Sela (Saint Bart's)

Biography edit

Granit was born in the Rasco neighborhood of Jerusalem. His parents were native-born Israelis of Polish Jewish descent who Hebraized their surname "Guterman". He grew up in the Nayot neighborhood and attended the Denmark High School in his hometown, where he earned the nickname "Buffalo" which sticks with him to this day.[4]

Granit initially served in the army as a combat soldier in the paratroopers brigade. After sustaining an injury during training, he was reassigned to serve as a medic instructor.[5][6]

Career edit

Shabour edit

He opened the restaurant in September 2019. In October 2019, Forbes named it one of the trendiest new restaurants in Paris.[7][8] In November, Granit won a major award from the French culinary magazine Le Fooding.[9] In December 2019, the restaurant was named the best restaurant in the French capital by Le Figaroscope, published by the French daily Le Figaro.[10][11] In January 2021, Shabour received a Michelin star and Serena Williams, among other celebrities, enjoyed a meal there.[12]

Other restaurants edit

Granit owns and operates other restaurants including Balagan (Paris, opened 2017), the Palomar (London), Sella (Saint Barthelemy, opened 2022) and Machneyuda (Israel, opened 2009).[11] He owns other restaurants with business partner Uri Navon as well.[13] Granit was born and trained in Jerusalem.

Other projects edit

In November 2020, Granit won the tender to open six restaurants to feed approximately 3000 employees at the Wix campus in Tel Aviv. The campus is set to open in 2022 and Granit's team won the tender to provide all of their meals.[14]

Television edit

 
Granit. 2015

In 2008, Granit was eliminated during the second season of the show "Knife Fight" on Channel 10, and represented Israel in the American version of the show.[15][16]

Since January 2014, Granit has served as a judge on the cooking reality show "Game of Chefs" (Mischakei HaChef) on Channel 13.[17]

Since 2015, Granit has hosted the docu-reality show "Revolution in the Kitchen" on Channel 2, which is the Israeli version of the British show "Kitchen Nightmares" hosted by chef Gordon Ramsay.[18]

In March 2017, the show "Chef Games: Food on Wheels" premiered, in which Granit participated along with chefs Meir Adoni and Moshik Roth.[19]

In 2021 he starred in the second season of the series "Being Filmed" which airs on Hot 3.[20]

On January 24, 2022, he began serving as a judge on the reality show "The Next Restaurant" on Channel 13, alongside chefs Moshik Roth, Yossi Shitrit and Ruthie Russo. He guest starred in the second season of the series Home Alone.[21]

In 2022, he was a judge on the first Israeli season of The Next Restaurant.[22]

References edit

  1. ^ "This celebrity chef owns Europe's hottest restaurant empire. But his heart remains in Jerusalem". Haaretz. Retrieved 2021-08-10.
  2. ^ Golan, Tiki (2021-01-18). "Israeli chef Assaf Granit gets Michelin star for Paris eatery". ynetnews. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
  3. ^ Hayom, Israel. "Michelin Star Awarded to Israeli Chef Assaf Granit". Retrieved 2021-01-26.
  4. ^ "50 היפים והנכונים: במקום השביעי - אסף גרניט". pplus (in Hebrew). 2016-12-22. Retrieved 2023-10-31.
  5. ^ "השף אסף גרניט נלחם בעצמו". www.israelhayom.co.il. Retrieved 2023-10-31.
  6. ^ בננסון, מריאנה (2014-01-27). "הכירו את אסף גרניט". הכירו את אסף גרניט (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2023-10-31.
  7. ^ Hossenally, Rooksana. "Where to Eat in Paris: The Best 13 New Restaurants to Try Right Now". Forbes. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
  8. ^ Hill, Lauren Jade. "Where To Eat And Stay In Paris According To The Chef Of Frenchie". Forbes. Retrieved 2021-08-10.
  9. ^ תיקי, גולן (October 5, 2019). "פרס לאסף גרניט בפריז ומסעדה חדשה בירושלים". Ynet. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  10. ^ "Israeli Chef Assaf Granit's Shabour Named Best Restaurant In Paris". NoCamels. 2019-12-22. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
  11. ^ a b "Israeli-owned restaurant is No. 1 in Paris after only 3 months". From the Grapevine. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
  12. ^ Swissa, Eran (June 17, 2021). "Tennis star Serena Williams among celebrities flocking to chef Assaf Granit's Shabour in Paris". www.israelhayom.com. Retrieved 2021-08-10.
  13. ^ "At the table with Assaf Granit". www.thejc.com. July 7, 2021. Retrieved 2021-08-10.
  14. ^ Shulman, Sophie (2020-11-17). "Wix brings in renowned chef to feed its staff". CTECH - www.calcalistech.com. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
  15. ^ "השפים עומר מילר ואסף גרניט יתחרו בתוכניות בישול אמריקאיות". הארץ (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2023-10-31.
  16. ^ "RETURN OF THE COAL OFFICE". Superstar chef Assaf Granit and design powerhouse join forces for a new eatery in Coal Drops Yard
  17. ^ "משחקי השף: עונה 3, פרק 11: המשימה של אסף גרניט". רשת 13 (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2023-10-31.
  18. ^ "יאמיז - מהפכה במטבח". רשת 13 (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2023-10-31.
  19. ^ "איך עושים אוטו אוכל? מאחורי הקלעים של הפקת התכנית". רשת 13 (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2023-10-31.
  20. ^ "מצולמים". www.ishim.co.il. Retrieved 2023-10-31.
  21. ^ שחר חסון מסתבך עם אסף גרניט | לבד בבית | שחר חסון (דוד זעתר בשבילכם) מסתבך עם אסף גרניט מתוך #לבד_בבית - סדרת החופש הגדול מהיוצרים של ״קופה ראשית״, עכשיו בכאן חינוכית (אפיק 80) ובדיגיטל בכל... | By ‎כאן‎ | Facebook, retrieved 2023-10-31
  22. ^ שילוני, סמדר (January 25, 2022). ""המסעדה הבאה": פורמט חדש ושאפתני שלא החליט לאן הוא הולך". Ynet (in Hebrew).

External links edit