About Curtis Duffy

World-renowned, James Beard Award-winning, Michelin-starred chef, Curtis Duffy.

Chef Curtis Duffy is a world-renowned, Michelin-starred chef and co-owner of Ever restaurant and After lounge in Chicago. 

Duffy has won numerous accolades. Ever was awarded two stars in the 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025 Michelin Guides, and Duffy’s previous restaurant, Grace, earned three Michelin stars from 2015 to 2018. Before that, Duffy earned two Michelin stars at Avenues at The Peninsula Hotel Chicago.

He has been awarded Forbes Travel Guide’s Five-Star rating, AAA’s Five-Diamond rating, and the James Beard Foundation’s Best Chef, Great Lakes Award in 2016.  

In the 2016 documentary For Grace, filmmakers chronicle the creation of Duffy’s former restaurant, Grace, and tell the riveting story of how the chef’s turbulent past shaped the person he is today.  

Duffy sits on the advisory board of the Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts, where a $25,000 scholarship in his name is awarded. Chef’s culinary and philanthropic efforts led to his induction into the prestigious Disciples d’Escoffier International.

Curtis Duffy working at the legendary Charlie Trotter's in Chicago.

Born in Columbus, Ohio, Curtis Duffy attended culinary school to escape his life at home and after his parent’s murder-suicide, he left Ohio to work at the legendary Charlie Trotter’s in Chicago.

After three years at Trotter’s, Duffy accepted a position as Pastry Chef at Trio, where Food & Wine recognized him as Best Innovative Pastry Chef. Duffy went on to work at Alinea and then Avenues before creating the three-Michelin-starred Grace.

The documentary For Grace about Duffy’s life story and his journey to build Grace became a Netflix hit. Duffy opened Grace in Chicago's West Loop in December 2012. In 2013, the Robb Report named Grace the best restaurant in the world. Grace earned three stars in the Michelin Guide four years in a row starting in 2015, and closed in December 2017.

After Grace’s unfortunate demise, Duffy built his newest restaurant, Ever, which opened its doors just as Chicago shut down the city in response to the COVID-19 epidemic. In July 2020, Duffy and Michael Muser opened Ever restaurant, which was awarded two Michelin stars in 2021, 2022, and 2023. Duffy launched Reve Burger in December of 2020  during the indoor dining shutdown during the COVID-19 pandemic. Reve closed in July 2022. In 2022, Duffy opened After lounge, and the following year Esquire named After one of the Best Bars in America. Ever is flourishing today: fully open, fully booked and has received two Michelin-stars in 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025.


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

Duffy spends his time between Chicago and Miami with his daughters, his wife, Jennifer Duffy, and her children.

Fireproof : Memoir of a Chef was co-written with Jeremy Wagner.

“Anthony Bourdain’s Kitchen Confidential meets Sons of Anarchy.” —Peter Blauner, New York Times bestselling author
“Anthony Bourdain’s Kitchen Confidential meets Sons of Anarchy.” —Peter Blauner, New York Times bestselling author
“Anthony Bourdain’s Kitchen Confidential meets Sons of Anarchy.” —Peter Blauner, New York Times bestselling author

Awards and Accolades