Top Qs
Timeline
Chat
Perspective
The Infatuation
Restaurant recommendation website From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Remove ads
The Infatuation (formerly known as Immaculate Infatuation) is an American New York–based restaurant recommendation website and messaging service, created by former music industry executives Chris Stang and Andrew Steinthal in 2009. They are most known for publishing restaurant reviews and guides, and as creators of the hashtag #EEEEEATS.[1]
They have developed an Android and iPhone app,[2] and operate an SMS-based restaurant recommendation service called Text Rex.[3] In 2017 they launched their food and music festival brand EEEEEATSCON.[4]
On March 6, 2018, the company acquired the Zagat rating company from Google for an undisclosed amount.[5]
On September 9, 2021, the company was acquired by JPMorgan Chase & Co.[6]
Remove ads
History
Immaculate Infatuation was established in 2009 by Stang and Steinthal with the aim of providing honest restaurant reviews without accepting invitations from restaurants or announcing their presence to a wait staff.[1] They later shortened the company name to The Infatuation.[7]
Funding
On September 27, 2018, The Infatuation raised $30 million from a third round of venture funding from WndrCo, the media holding company co-founded by the Hollywood mogul Jeffrey Katzenberg.[8]
Zagat acquisition
On March 5, 2018, The Infatuation acquired Zagat's brand and assets from Google. They did not disclose the amount.[5] They will reportedly operate as two distinct brands, with The Infatuation retaining its editorial-first focus and Zagat will expand user surveys and develop a new tech-driven platform.[9]
Remove ads
#EEEEEATS
In 2012, The Infatuation started to use #EEEEEATS as a way to tag their food photos on Instagram. The 5 Es are explained as a way to make "[what we do] feel fun" and "[to not] take things too seriously."[1] The hashtag was quickly adopted by the food community and now has grown to over 10 million tags.[10] The company also operates 22 different Instagram handles including the main @infatuation account, one for each of their operating cities, and food-specific accounts like @pizza, @avocadotoast, and @burger.[11]
Remove ads
Underfinger
In May 2014, The Infatuation published a satirical review of a faux restaurant by the name of Underfinger, featuring "farm to finger" foods like seahorse sashimi and charcuterie gloves. The fictional restaurant was later brought to life in a pop-up event hosted by Brooklyn restaurant Do or Dine.[12] A short-form documentary was created from the pop-up and later earned the company a James Beard Foundation Journalism Award nomination in the Humor category.[1]
EEEEEATSCON
Summarize
Perspective
EEEEEATSCON is The Infatuation's food festival held at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, CA, Forest Hills Stadium in Forest Hills, NY, The Salt Shed in Chicago, IL, and Bayfront Park in Miami, FL.[4] The event is described as a "food festival built in the spirit of a music festival" and includes restaurant vendors, speaking engagements, sponsor activations, and live performances.[13]
Remove ads
See also
References
Wikiwand - on
Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.
Remove ads