Curtis Duffy was the decorated chef behind one of Chicago’s most celebrated restaurants, Grace, until he abruptly left the restaurant after disputes with the owner in 2017. In the years since, Duffy rebuilt his life and career – from mass-producing burgers to opening his new restaurant, Ever, amidst a global pandemic. Filmmaker Frankie Nasso followed him on that journey and dove into his past for the documentary Ever After, which makes its world premiere at the 62nd Chicago International Film Festival.
We spoke with Chef Duffy and Nasso about their journey, their documentary, and Chicago as a food and filmmaking city.
How did the idea for this documentary first come about, and what made you say yes to seven years of someone else’s camera in your kitchen and your life?
Chef Duffy: I wanted to tell my full story, with nothing left out: the work ethic, my family, and the childhood experiences that shaped who I became as an adult. Jeremy, my friend and business partner, was as passionate as I was about bringing it to life. Letting a camera into your kitchen and your life for seven years takes trust, and both Jeremy and our director, Frankie Nasso, had that from me. I knew they would do it right.
How did you first get connected with Chef Duffy and begin thinking about this project?
Frankie: Like I tell everyone, everything good in my life (mostly) comes from heavy metal.
Jeremy Wagner is a Chicagoland legend, known as the founding member and guitarist of death metal pioneers Broken Hope. Jeremy was looking for a music video director for his latest thrash metal band Lupara, and I jumped at the opportunity to film a project in Chicago. So, my crew of five packed into a car with heavy film lights and gear on our laps, personal belongings strapped to the roof, and drove 13-hours straight from NYC to…the woods of Waukegan. That modest, DIY video went on to win numerous awards, including one of MTV’s Headbanger’s Ball top videos of the year.
Since then, Jeremy has become one of the most important people in my life, as a dear friend and collaborator for two decades. In 2019, Jeremy first told me about a nonfiction memoir he was co-writing with another Chicago legend: Chef Curtis Duffy. It turned out Chef was also a fan of our genre of music – it was baked in his DNA and fueled his passion for his own culinary artistry.
Curtis was about to embark on his newest endeavor after being forced to walk away from the crown jewel of Chicago’s Restaurant Row: Grace. He was looking for someone to film the process of breaking ground on what would become Ever restaurant. Luckily, Curtis was a fan of some of the work I had directed in the world of music videos, and when Jeremy introduced us, we instantly clicked. We started rolling cameras in 2019 when Ever restaurant was just beginning construction. When the pandemic hit in 2020 and we saw what Chef Duffy and his team were up against, we kept filming. And we really haven’t stopped refining until now.
Chicago’s food scene has been popularized thanks to The Bear – and you’ve been a part of it as a culinary consultant and with the show shooting at Ever. How has the show and its ensuing spotlight surprised you, and how has the restaurant or the city’s culinary scene responded to the phenomenon of The Bear?
Chef Duffy: Chicago has an amazing food scene, and it was special to see that depicted on The Bear. From the start, the show was committed to honesty and truth: real consultants, real chefs, and the cast embraced that. It was an honor for me and my team, Justin Selk, our Culinary Director, and Amy Cordell, our COO, to be part of it, along with Courtney Storer, the show’s culinary producer, and the entire cast and crew. As for the spotlight, I’m not surprised at all. Chicago embraces its diverse culinary world. What the show brought was an overall appreciation and a deeper understanding of the real struggles and intensity of what it takes to run a restaurant. The city rallied behind its restaurants.
You’ve worked on many music videos before, and Chef Duffy is a big music fan and musician himself, and music is a big part of the film. Why was music so important to this film, and how do music and food align?
Frankie: Many food docs and chef-based films immediately go for operatic and symphony-based scores, because (let’s face it) those sounds alone could make images of boiling water or peeling an onion feel dramatic. I wanted hints of the rock/metal genre sprinkled into our score, but I didn’t want it to overpower or distract from the visuals.
My personal goal with this film is to have fine-dining food lovers and metal elitists come together and find common ground and understanding in Chef Duffy’s story. Rock and heavy metal music is embedded within the fibers of his body and drenched within his soul. This music ultimately aided in his own survival. Rock/metal and ultra-fine-dining can coexist organically and thoughtfully as proven in Chef Duffy’s artistry. I wanted to prove that heavy metal artistry can be beautiful. It’s the music that inspires both Chef Duffy and I to create.
We’re fortunate to have incredible music in the film from some of our favorite artists across the rock and metal spectrum, including Kirk Hammett of Metallica, Anthrax, Parkway Drive, The Native Howl, Bleeker, and Nefariant, but I chose some of their softer, more nuanced tracks to work with.
One of Chef Duffy’s favorite songs is “God’s Gonna Cut You Down” by Johnny Cash, and I pitched the idea of a modern rendition recording to thrashgrass visionaries The Native Howl. Within two months they were in the studio with famed music producer Jay Ruston recording the track specifically for our film. It’s the perfect theme for Curtis’ journey.
What does it mean to have Ever After premiere at the Chicago International Film Festival?
Chef Duffy: It’s a privilege and an honor to premiere a story so rooted in Chicago. I’ve built my life and career here, and I’ve been part of this city’s culinary community for years. Having the core of who I am shown here, the place I’ve called home for 26 years, is truly special.
Frankie: Ever since filming my first music video in Chicagoland 20 years ago, the city has been like a second home to me. I’ve returned dozens of times for film production, and to enjoy the sights, making lifelong friends, all while having some of the best meals of my life.
Chicago is the beating heart of this country and I’m so proud to have the world premiere here – it’s the only place in the world I would want to be to celebrate this film, Chef Curtis Duffy, and all the people who have supported us along the way.
Ever After screens at the Music Box Theater on Mon. Oct. 19 for its World Premiere, with Chef Duffy & special guests in attendance for Q&A – get tickets now.
