Curtis Duffy Explained

Curtis Duffy is an American chef and restaurateur known for the Chicago-based restaurants Ever and Grace. Among his various accolades are Michelin stars and a James Beard Award.

Early life and education

Duffy was born in Newark, Ohio. He lived in Colorado Springs, Colorado until age 12, when his family moved to Johnstown, Ohio.[1] When Duffy was 19, his estranged father killed his wife and then himself in a murder-suicide in 1994.[2]

Professional career

Duffy began his career as a professional chef in 2000 working under the namesake restaurant of chef Charlie Trotter in Chicago.[3] In 2003, Duffy worked as pastry chef with Grant Achatz at Trio in Evanston, IL. Duffy left Trio with Achatz to serve as Chef de cuisine at Alinea in Chicago in 2005.[4] Duffy became head chef at Avenues, a restaurant in the Peninsula Hotel Chicago in 2009. Avenues earned two Michelin stars in 2010.[5] Duffy and Michael Muser opened Grace in Chicago's West Loop in December 2012. In 2013, the Robb Report named Grace the best restaurant in the world.[6] Grace earned three stars in the Michelin Guide four years in a row starting in 2015[7] and closed in December 2017.[8]

In July 2020, Duffy and Muser opened Ever restaurant,[9] which was awarded two Michelin stars in 2021,[10] 2022,[11] and 2023.[12] Duffy launched Reve Burger in December of 2020 [13] during the indoor dining shutdown during the COVID-19 pandemic.[14] Reve closed in July 2022.[15] In 2022, Duffy opened After lounge, and the following year Esquire named After one of the Best Bars in America.[16]

In media

Duffy appeared as a judge for four seasons (2011–2014) on the Chicago Restaurant Pastry Competition reality TV show.[17] The 2015 Netflix documentary For Grace centers on Duffy and his journey to becoming a three-Michelin-starred chef.[18] In 2018 Duffy appeared as a guest judge in the season finale of .[19] Duffy appeared in Netflix's in 2022[20] and as a judge on Season 21 of Top Chef.[21] In 2023, season 2, episode 7 of The Bear was filmed inside Ever. Duffy made and plated the dishes that appear in the episode.[22] In 2024, the season 3 finale of The Bear was filmed inside Ever.[23]

Personal life

Duffy is married to Jennifer Duffy.[24] He has two daughters and two stepchildren.

Awards and accolades

The James Beard Foundation named Duffy Best Chef, Great Lakes in 2016.[25] Duffy was inducted into the Disciples d'Escoffier in 2016[26]

Notes and References

  1. News: Pang . Kevin . His Saving Grace . 18 August 2024 . Chicago Tribune.
  2. News: Ten-Hour Standoff at Home Results in Murder-Suicide . 18 August 2024 . Associated Press . Daily Kent Stater . September 14, 1994.
  3. Web site: Garzina . Daniel . Matthias Merges, Curtis Duffy Reflect on Charlie Trotter . Eater Chicago . 5 November 2013 . 18 August 2024.
  4. Chef Curtis Duffy . Four Magazine . March 4, 2017 . 18 August 2024.
  5. Web site: Culinary: Curtis Duffy . Defining Greatness . 18 August 2024.
  6. Busico . Michalene . Best of the Best 2013: Dining: Grace . Robb Report . June 2013 . 18 August 2024.
  7. Baker . Abbe . Full List: The 2018 MICHELIN Guide Chicago Results Announced . Michelin Guide . 21 October 2017 . 18 August 2024.
  8. Web site: Selvam . Ashok . Grace Officially Closes a Day After Kitchen Staff Walk Out . Eater Chicago . 21 December 2017 . 18 August 2024.
  9. News: Caro . Mark . How to Open a Top-Tier Restaurant in a Pandemic? Rethink Everything . 18 August 2024 . New York Times . July 28, 2020.
  10. News: Moore . Evan F. . Three Chicago restaurants receive their first Michelin stars . 18 August 2024 . Chicago Sun-Times . April 29, 2021.
  11. News: Noel . Josh . 4 Chicago restaurants get first Michelin stars in 2022; Alinea retains 3-star rating . 18 August 2024 . Chicago Tribune . April 6, 2022.
  12. Web site: Waxman . Naomi . Chicago's 2023 Michelin Stars, Mapped . Chicago Eater . 20 October 2017 . 18 August 2024.
  13. Web site: Selvam . Ashok . 2020-12-10 . Chef Curtis Duffy Launches Fast-Food Burger Virtual Restaurant . 2024-11-13 . Eater Chicago . en.
  14. News: Arseneau . Jordan . March 3, 2021 . 3 Michelin-starred Chicago chef Curtis Duffy opens ghost kitchen serving burgers and fries . 18 August 2024 . ABC News Chicago.
  15. Web site: Waxman . Naomi . 8 June 2022 . Chef Curtis Duffy's Fast-Food Spot Rêve Burger to Close in July . 18 August 2024 . Eater Chicago.
  16. The Best Bars in America, 2023 . Esquire . June 1, 2023 . 18 August 2024.
  17. Web site: Contestants Step Up to the Plate in Third Episode of Chicago Restaurant Pastry Competition: Season 3 Emmy-award-winning competition releases new episode online . Chef Works . 18 August 2024.
  18. Web site: For Grace . Amazon Prime Video . 18 August 2024.
  19. News: Bernhard . Rachel . 'Top Chef: Wisconsin' Episode 11 recap: Laying it all on the table in the Top Chef kitchen . 18 August 2024 . Milwaukee Journal Sentinel . May 29, 2024.
  20. Web site: Mitra . Shraman . Where is Iron Chef's Curtis Duffy Now? . The Cinemaholic . 15 June 2022 . 18 August 2024.
  21. News: Forsythe . Dana . 'Top Chef' Season 21: How to watch, what to expect . 18 August 2024 . United Press International . March 20, 2024.
  22. Web site: Selvam . Ashok . In 'The Bear,' the World's Greatest Restaurant Resides in Chicago . Chicago Eater . 29 June 2023 . 18 August 2024.
  23. Web site: Eakin . Marah . Ever After The Bear . Vulture . 2 July 2024 . 18 August 2024.
  24. Web site: Jordan . Candace . GET COOKIN' WITH... Chef Curtis Duffy . Chicago Star . 30 November 2022 . 18 August 2024.
  25. News: Di Nunzio . Miriam . Chicago's Alinea, Curtis Duffy win 2016 James Beard Awards . 18 August 2024 . Chicago Sun-Times . May 3, 2016.
  26. News: Olsen . Morgan . If you watched 'For Grace' on Netflix, this will give you all the feels . 18 August 2024 . Chicago Tribune . May 25, 2019.

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