Adam Fleischman

Last updated

Adam Fleischman
Adam Fleischman.jpg
Fleischman in 2015
Born1969or1970(age 55–56)
Alma mater University of Maryland
OccupationRestaurateur
Known for Umami Burger

Adam Fleischman (born 1969or1970) [1] is an American restaurateur who founded the Umami Burger chain. He is also the founder and former chief executive officer of the Umami Restaurant Group. [2]

Contents

Early life

Fleischman was born in Queens, New York, [3] and grew up in Silver Spring, Maryland. He graduated from the University of Maryland with a liberal arts degree. In 1998, he moved to Los Angeles with aspirations of becoming a screenwriter. [3] He opened wine bars BottleRock and Vinoteque in Los Angeles. [4] [5]

In 2004, Fleischman won Iron Chef America. [6] [7]

Restaurants

In 2009, Fleischman founded Umami Burger in Los Angeles. [1] [8] [9] [10] In 2011, SBE Entertainment Group acquired a stake of Umami Burger equal to that of Fleischman's, and in 2016, SBE acquired a majority of Umami Restaurant Group. At the time, Umami Burger had 24 locations domestically with plans to expand internationally. [11]

In 2012, Fleischman partnered with chef Anthony Carron to found 800 Degrees Pizza as part of the Umami Restaurant Group. [12] 800 Degrees re-branded to 800 Degrees Woodfired Kitchen in February 2018. [13]

In 2017, Fleischman opened PBJ.LA in Grand Central Market in Los Angeles, which offers a variety of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. [14]

In 2022, Fleischman opened Slow Burn in Echo Park, Los Angeles, a "pan-Asian smokehouse". It closed three weeks after opening without explanation. [15]

Other ventures

Fleischman co-wrote the 2016 cookbook Flavor Bombs: The Umami Ingredients That Make Taste Explode. [16]

Personal life

In 2023, Fleischman appeared in an episode of Outside The Box with "The Squatter Hunter" Flash Shelton. In the episode Fleischman was accused of squatting in a Hollywood Hills house as part of a business deal gone wrong with actress and musician Claudia Cummings. [17]

Publications

References

  1. 1 2 Seukunian, Matthew (January 1, 2015). "Adam Fleischman: Trusting the Fifth Dimension of Taste". CSQ.
  2. ↑ Jenning, Lisa (April 16, 2013). "Umami Restaurant Group names VP of restaurant operations". nrn.com. Archived from the original on April 24, 2013.
  3. 1 2 "Umami Burger Comes to New York, Armed With One Addictive Ingredient". Grub Street. May 26, 2013. Retrieved February 14, 2019.
  4. ↑ Scattergood, Amy (August 7, 2017). "The guy who brought you Umami Burger wants to reinvent PB&J". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved October 6, 2023.
  5. ↑ Garzela, Daniela (May 28, 2013). "Adam Fleischman Takes The Fifth Taste East". Los Angeles Magazine. Retrieved October 6, 2023.
  6. ↑ "Adam Fleischman". IMDb. Retrieved April 8, 2025.
  7. ↑ Dillon, Kassy (October 6, 2023). "How a handyman known for taking on squatters invoked this civil process to turn the tables on a celebrity chef". Fox News. Retrieved April 8, 2025.
  8. ↑ Gelt, Jessica (August 11, 2011). "Umami Burger's brand sizzles with SBE backing". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on June 7, 2022.
  9. ↑ Goodyear, Dana (December 14, 2011). "All Hail The Umami Burger". The New Yorker. Archived from the original on April 16, 2013.
  10. ↑ Platt, Adam (May 26, 2013). "Umami Burger Comes to New York, Armed With One Addictive Ingredient". New York . Archived from the original on October 20, 2013.
  11. ↑ "SBE takes majority stake in Umami Burger". Nation's Restaurant News. October 17, 2016. Retrieved February 14, 2019.
  12. ↑ Seukunian, Matthew (January 5, 2015). "Adam Fleischman: Trusting the Fifth Dimension of Taste". CSQ | Magazine, Events, Community. Retrieved February 14, 2019.
  13. ↑ "LA pizza shop 800 Degrees rebrands with 'Woodfired Kitchen'". Nation's Restaurant News. February 12, 2018. Retrieved February 14, 2019.
  14. ↑ Gray Painter, Alysia (August 25, 2017). "Downtown New: Peanut Butter & Jelly Restaurant". NBCLosAngeles.com. Archived from the original on November 6, 2017.
  15. ↑ "Adam Fleischman's New Echo Park Restaurant Only Lasted Three Weeks". Eater LA. Retrieved March 16, 2024.
  16. ↑ "Adam Fleischman". Food & Wine. Retrieved October 6, 2023.
  17. ↑ Dillon, Kassy (October 6, 2023). "Why the handyman who turned the tables on squatters confronted a celebrity chef accused of living rent-free". Fox News. Retrieved October 6, 2023.