Born in Houston and an alumna of the University of Houston, Tracy Malechek-Ezekiel found culinary inspiration in Spain and received further education at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York. Then she headed to New York, working at some of the world’s most revered restaurants including Cru, Del Posto, Blue Hill, and Gramercy Tavern. She later opened Untitled at the Whitney before moving with her husband and business partner, Arjav, to Austin, Texas. There, she owns Birdie’s, which features seasonally inspired food with French and Italian influence, in a counter-service setting with a deeply curated wine selection. Birdie’s was named one of Bon Appetit’s and Esquire’s best new restaurants in 2022, and it made The New York Times’ 2021 Restaurant List.