Amanda Freitag
New York Chef
Education
Amanda Freitag attended Cedar Grove High School in New Jersey, and was trained at the Culinary Institute of America
Career
Amanda Freitag, following her graduation from the Culinary Institute of America in 1989, took a position working under chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, at Vong New York. However, she left Vong after five years of work to cook at Verbena (under chef Diane Forley) in 1994. After working yet another five years in Verbena, in 1999, Freitag traveled to France and Italy and, for a short time, worked at L'arpege under chef Alain Passard. Four years later, in 2003, Freitag and restaurateur Godfrey Polistina opened the resturant Cesca Enoteca & Trattoria, in upper west side Manhattan.
Amanda Freitag has battled chefs Bobby Flay and Alexandra Guarnaschelli on the popular television show Iron Chef America and nearly won on both occasions, with a one point difference separating a win and a loss for Amanda
Recent activities
Amanda Freitag took over as executive chef of the Empire Diner in Manhattan in January of 2014. On May 22 of this year, Amanda Freitag began hosting the new Food Network series American Diner Revival, along the popular television host Tygert Burton "Ty" Pennington, most famous for having been the host of the popular show Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.