Curtis Duffy on Fireproof, Forgiveness, and the Fine Art of Starting Over

Photo Credit: Stephanie Cabral

CURTIS DUFFY IS A CHEF OF REMARKABLE PRECISION AND EVEN RARER EMOTIONAL DEPTH  — ONE OF the few American chefs to earn three Michelin stars, then walk away, rebuild, and rise again. Today, he’s the chef and co-owner of Ever, Chicago’s two-Michelin-starred fine-dining landmark, and its cocktail-driven companion, After. But his story isn’t just about the food — it’s about the fire behind it.

That fire burns through Fireproof, his…