Portrait of Tracy Malechek-Ezekiel
i. Biography
Tracy Malechek-Ezekiel is the chef and co-owner of Birdie’s in Austin, Texas, an East Austin restaurant opened in July 2021 with her husband, sommelier Arjav Ezekiel. Birdie’s has drawn national attention, including Food & Wine naming it Restaurant of the Year and The New York Times-style coverage noting its counter-service model and destination status. Tracy was born in Houston and grew up in Tomball, a suburb just outside the city. Tracy was a 2024 James Beard Foundation finalist for Best Chef: Texas and a 2025 TIME100 Next honoree with Arjav Ezekiel.
