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Slideshow
January 8, 2013

Slideshow: A Night at Curtis Duffy’s Grace, the Country’s Most

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Photo: Huge Galdones

In our video seriesFinding Grace, we showed you the creation of former Alinea chef de cuisine Curtis Duffy’s new restaurant,Grace, in Chicago, and the intense dedication of Duffy and his team to creating a truly graceful experience for guests. The irony, of course, is that all that was taking place in the midst of construction — far from an atmosphere of grace in practice. Now the restaurant is open, and our man Huge Galdones followed service one night last week to capture it in full swing as the realization of Duffy and GM Michael Muser’s aspirations. We’ll show you how Duffy’s light, vegetable-flavor-driven dishes come together on the plate, but you’ll also see the intensity and precision that goes into creating the total guest experience at perhaps the most exacting and inspiring restaurant opening of the past year. Here is Curtis Duffy’s vision — in practice five nights a week, at 652 West Randolph in Chicago.

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1 / 30 Photos
Table for two. Table for two.

Table for two.

Photo: Eugene (Huge) Galdones/? 2013 Galdones Photography // All Rights Reserved
Every detail is carefully addressed before service starts. Every detail is carefully addressed before service starts.

Every detail is carefully addressed before service starts.

Photo: Eugene (Huge) Galdones/? 2013 Galdones Photography // All Rights Reserved
Menu. Menu.

Menu.

Photo: Eugene (Huge) Galdones/? 2013 Galdones Photography // All Rights Reserved
Stemware as far as the eye can see (but tucked out of view of the diners). Stemware as far as the eye can see (but tucked out of view of the diners).

Stemware as far as the eye can see (but tucked out of view of the diners).

Photo: Eugene (Huge) Galdones/? 2013 Galdones Photography // All Rights Re...

Stemware as far as the eye can see (but tucked out of view of the diners).

Photo: Eugene (Huge) Galdones/? 2013 Galdones Photography // All Rights Reserved
窗户进了厨房。 窗户进了厨房。

窗户进了厨房。

Photo: Eugene (Huge) Galdones/? 2013 Galdones Photography // All Rights Reserved
Chef Curtis Duffy with chef de cuisine Nicholas Romero (right). Chef Curtis Duffy with chef de cuisine Nicholas Romero (right).

Chef Curtis Duffy with chef de cuisine Nicholas Romero (right).

Photo: Eugene (Huge) Galdones/? 2013 Galdones Photography // All Rights Reserved
A pantry for all to see. A pantry for all to see.

A pantry for all to see.

Photo: Eugene (Huge) Galdones/? 2013 Galdones Photography // All Rights Reserved
Consistency is a recurring theme, along with the goal (mentioned many times during the pre-service meeting) of Consistency is a recurring theme, along with the goal (mentioned many times during the pre-service meeting) of

Consistency is a recurring theme, along with the goal (mentioned many times during the pre-service meeting) of "honoring the guest's experience.&...

Consistency is a recurring theme, along with the goal (mentioned many times during the pre-service meeting) of "honoring the guest's experience."

Photo: Eugene (Huge) Galdones/? 2013 Galdones Photography // All Rights Reserved
Dipping liquid popcorn in chocolate. Dipping liquid popcorn in chocolate.

Dipping liquid popcorn in chocolate.

Photo: Eugene (Huge) Galdones/? 2013 Galdones Photography // All Rights Reserved
Picking the seeds out of finger lime cells. Picking the seeds out of finger lime cells.

Picking the seeds out of finger lime cells.

Photo: Eugene (Huge) Galdones/? 2013 Galdones Photography // All Rights Reserved
Plenty of liquid nitrogen used in this kitchen, for sweet and savory menu items alike. Plenty of liquid nitrogen used in this kitchen, for sweet and savory menu items alike.

Plenty of liquid nitrogen used in this kitchen, for sweet and savory menu items alike.

Photo: Eugene (Huge) Galdones/? 2013 Galdones Photography // A...

Plenty of liquid nitrogen used in this kitchen, for sweet and savory menu items alike.

Photo: Eugene (Huge) Galdones/? 2013 Galdones Photography // All Rights Reserved
Tonight's family meal: tacos. Tonight's family meal: tacos.

Tonight's family meal: tacos.

Photo: Eugene (Huge) Galdones/? 2013 Galdones Photography // All Rights Reserved
Caramelizing the brioche French toast for the anise hissop dish containing Queensland Blue Water Squash and crabapple. Caramelizing the brioche French toast for the anise hissop dish containing Queensland Blue Water Squash and crabapple.

Caramelizing the brioche French toast for the anise hissop dish containing Queensland Blue Water Squash and crabapple.

Photo: Eugene (Huge) Galdones/...

Caramelizing the brioche French toast for the anise hissop dish containing Queensland Blue Water Squash and crabapple.

Photo: Eugene (Huge) Galdones/? 2013 Galdones Photography // All Rights Reserved
Spraying staves with Elmer T. Lee bourbon. Spraying staves with Elmer T. Lee bourbon.

Spraying staves with Elmer T. Lee bourbon.

Photo: Eugene (Huge) Galdones/? 2013 Galdones Photography // All Rights Reserved
Amuse gueules: The staves eventually get charred to point of smoking. Amuse gueules: The staves eventually get charred to point of smoking.

Amuse gueules: The staves eventually get charred to point of smoking.

Photo: Eugene (Huge) Galdones/? 2013 Galdones Photography // All Rights Reserve...

Amuse gueules: The staves eventually get charred to point of smoking.

Photo: Eugene (Huge) Galdones/? 2013 Galdones Photography // All Rights Reserved
Saffron and black lime cracker before it hits the fryer. Saffron and black lime cracker before it hits the fryer.

Saffron and black lime cracker before it hits the fryer.

Photo: Eugene (Huge) Galdones/? 2013 Galdones Photography // All Rights Reserved
Pre-service front of house meeting. Pre-service front of house meeting.

Pre-service front of house meeting.

Photo: Eugene (Huge) Galdones/? 2013 Galdones Photography // All Rights Reserved
Chef Duffy's ink. Chef Duffy's ink.

Chef Duffy's ink.

Photo: Eugene (Huge) Galdones/? 2013 Galdones Photography // All Rights Reserved
Every station's mise is always impeccably Every station's mise is always impeccably

Every station's mise is always impeccably "en place."

Photo: Eugene (Huge) Galdones/? 2013 Galdones Photography // All Rights Reserved
Ossetra caviar, meyer lemon, kumquat jam, chive. Ossetra caviar, meyer lemon, kumquat jam, chive.

Ossetra caviar, meyer lemon, kumquat jam, chive.

Photo: Eugene (Huge) Galdones/? 2013 Galdones Photography // All Rights Reserved
Kampachi, golden trout roe, pomelo, Thai basil. Kampachi, golden trout roe, pomelo, Thai basil.

Kampachi, golden trout roe, pomelo, Thai basil.

Photo: Eugene (Huge) Galdones/? 2013 Galdones Photography // All Rights Reserved
Parsnip, dried pineapple, tarragon ice, fennel. Parsnip, dried pineapple, tarragon ice, fennel.

Parsnip, dried pineapple, tarragon ice, fennel.

Photo: Eugene (Huge) Galdones/? 2013 Galdones Photography // All Rights Reserved
Chef Nick plating the carrot course, consisting of carrot, Iranian pistachio, whipped mascarpone, carrot top. Chef Nick plating the carrot course, consisting of carrot, Iranian pistachio, whipped mascarpone, carrot top.

Chef Nick plating the carrot course, consisting of carrot, Iranian pistachio, whipped mascarpone, carrot top.

Photo: Eugene (Huge) Galdones/? 2013 Ga...

Chef Nick plating the carrot course, consisting of carrot, Iranian pistachio, whipped mascarpone, carrot top.

Photo: Eugene (Huge) Galdones/? 2013 Galdones Photography // All Rights Reserved
Bitter chocolate, raw chesnut, persimmon, lemon mint. Bitter chocolate, raw chesnut, persimmon, lemon mint.

Bitter chocolate, raw chesnut, persimmon, lemon mint.

Photo: Eugene (Huge) Galdones/? 2013 Galdones Photography // All Rights Reserved
Double-dipping in nitro. Double-dipping in nitro.

Double-dipping in nitro.

Photo: Eugene (Huge) Galdones/? 2013 Galdones Photography // All Rights Reserved
电镀的冷冻扇贝与嗨biscus tea, five licorice-flavored herbs. 电镀的冷冻扇贝与嗨biscus tea, five licorice-flavored herbs.

电镀的冷冻扇贝与嗨biscus tea, five licorice-flavored herbs.

Photo: Eugene (Huge) Galdones/? 2013 Galdones Photography // All ...

电镀的冷冻扇贝与嗨biscus tea, five licorice-flavored herbs.

Photo: Eugene (Huge) Galdones/? 2013 Galdones Photography // All Rights Reserved
The completed chilled scallop course. The completed chilled scallop course.

The completed chilled scallop course.

Photo: Eugene (Huge) Galdones/? 2013 Galdones Photography // All Rights Reserved
Sunchoke, braised mustard seeds, freekeh, cippolini onion, lovage. Sunchoke, braised mustard seeds, freekeh, cippolini onion, lovage.

Sunchoke, braised mustard seeds, freekeh, cippolini onion, lovage.

Photo: Eugene (Huge) Galdones/? 2013 Galdones Photography // All Rights Reserved
Chef Duffy in action. Chef Duffy in action.

Chef Duffy in action.

Photo: Eugene (Huge) Galdones/? 2013 Galdones Photography // All Rights Reserved
Night's end. Night's end.

Night's end.

Photo: Eugene (Huge) Galdones/? 2013 Galdones Photography // All Rights Reserved
1 / 30

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  • slideshow
  • curtis duffy
  • grace
  • slideshow

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