Fireproof
Memoir of a Chef
by Curtis Duffy; Jeremy Wagner
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Pub Date Aug 05 2025 | Archive Date Aug 05 2025
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Description
With rare intensity and candor, world-renowned, Michelin-starred Chef Curtis Duffy shares his epic journey from child of an outlaw biker father to famed culinary iconoclast. Fans of no holds-barred stories such as Motley Crue’s The Dirt, memoirs by celebrity chefs, and brutally honest personal memoirs will love this raw and inspiring true story.
“Chef Curtis Duffy's Fireproof is like Anthony Bourdain's Kitchen Confidential meets Sons of Anarchy.”
—Peter Blauner, New York Times bestselling author of The Intruder
Fireproof charts Chef Curtis Duffy’s rise in spite of trauma, to being mentored by and recognized among the world’s top chefs. Amid childhood chaos in rural Ohio, a young Duffy first found refuge in Home Ec class, then at one of Columbus’s best restaurants, where he honed his skills. His passion ignited, Duffy was dead set on leaving Ohio and breaking the Duffy family curse.
But the tragic deaths of his parents jeopardized his promising trajectories. Summoning extraordinary fortitude, Duffy ate pain, graduated culinary school, and moved to Chicago to work in Chef Charlie Trotter’s kitchen—a hotbed of talent that produced prominent alumni such as Grant Achatz, Graham Elliot, and Homaro Cantu. Inspired by stellar peers and staging for Thomas Keller at the French Laundry, Duffy’s drive only grew.
His meteoric rise would cost him a marriage—the price of ambition, focus, and Grace restaurant. Grace earned three Michelin stars four years in a row, solidifying Duffy’s place as one of the world’s greatest culinary artists. But in a heartbreaking act of defiance, Duffy walked out after disputes with Grace’s owner.
Unstoppable, Duffy created Ever restaurant—a launch nearly derailed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Duffy persisted where many others would have resigned their craft, and Ever earned two Michelin stars from 2021-2024. Duffy was ranked one of the “50 Most Powerful People in American Fine Dining” in 2024 by the Robb Report.
,A Note From the Publisher
-A new memoir from the world-renowned Michelin-starred Chef Curtis Duffy
-Duffy is the award-winning Chef of Ever restaurant, heavily featured in the acclaimed FX/Hulu show THE BEAR
-Duffy is of the Robb Report's 2024 50 most powerful people in Fine Dining
-Large social media following on Instagram and X of 95k
-A new memoir from the world-renowned Michelin-starred Chef Curtis Duffy—summed up as "Anthony Bourdain's Kitchen Confidential meets Sons of Anarchy"
Advance Praise
“Anthony Bourdain’s Kitchen Confidential
meets Sons of Anarchy.”
—Peter Blauner, New York Times bestselling author
“How Chef Duffy defeated his demons and fulfilled
his muse will genuinely blow your mind...”
—Joel McIver, bestselling author of To Live Is to Die: The Life and Death of Metallica’s Cliff Burton
Marketing Plan
NATIONAL TOUR • NATIONAL PUBLICITY • ONLINE AND PRINT FEATURES & REVIEWS • NATIONAL ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN • INDIE BOOKSELLER & LIBRARY MARKETING CAMPAIGN • ADVANCE READER COPIES • EARLY READER REVIEW CAMPAIGN • INFLUENCER CAMPAIGN • BOOK CLUB MARKETING • EDELWEISS & NETGALLY DRC CAMPAIGNS • EMAIL & SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING
Available Editions
EDITION | Hardcover |
ISBN | 9781639511358 |
PRICE | $29.99 (USD) |
PAGES | 400 |
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews

The aptly named Fireproof starts with a first chapter that will leave you gutted—the trauma Curtis Duffy endured at nineteen is horrific, and quite simply unfathomable. From the ashes of his turbulent childhood, Duffy discovered a passion for culinary artistry, transforming pain into purpose and the kitchen into his sanctuary.
Duffy's compelling memoir charts his extraordinary journey, showcasing his relentless drive to rise above unimaginable challenges and achieve greatness. His story is one of triumph born of sacrifice, a powerful reminder of the resilience required to reach the highest levels of success in the unforgiving world of fine dining.
Fireproof offers an intimate look at the man behind the accolades, revealing the heart and grit that fuelled his ascent. Chef Curtis Duffy’s story is as inspiring as it is unforgettable. Fans of culinary memoirs and tales of perseverance will find themselves riveted by this remarkable account.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Dead Sky Publishing for providing me with an eARC of Fireproof prior to its publication.