Grant Achatz life and biography

Grant Achatz (born 1974) is an American chef and restaurateur often identified as one of the leaders in molecular gastronomy or progressive cuisine. His Chicago restaurant Alinea has won numerous accolades, and Achatz himself has won numerous awards from prominent culinary institutions and publications.

In 2005, Achatz went out on his own, opening Alinea in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood. The restaurant is located up the block from the famed Steppenwolf Theatre Company and is housed in a modest gray brick building which bears no external markings beyond its street number. Inside, the restaurant has no bar, no lobby, and seats just 64 guests. Achatz serves diners a small-course tasting menu, running approximately 18 courses. After less than two years of operation, the Mobil Travel Guide bestowed its Five Star Award on Alinea, making Alinea one of just 16 restaurants nationwide to rate five stars for 2007.

In October 2006, Gourmet magazine named Alinea the best restaurant in America in its feature on "America's Top 50 Restaurants".

In 2007, Restaurant magazine added Alinea to its list of the 50 best restaurants in the world at number 36, the highest new entry of the year. In 2008, that publication moved Alinea up its list 15 spots, to number 21 in the world. Alinea cracked the top ten in 2009, moving up to number 10 in the world, and advanced to number 7 for 2010, when it was also the highest ranked North American restaurant honored. Alinea maintained its top North American Ranking for 2011, while moving up one position overall to 6th best restaurant in the world.

In November 2009, Achatz and his Alinea team designed the menu for Ikarus, a restaurant in Salzburg, Austria which brings in a top chef from a different restaurant each month to design the menu for that month and train the staff.

Alinea was awarded three stars in the 2011 Michelin Guide for Chicago.

Achatz's other restaurants include Next, a restaurant that uses a unique ticketing system in Chicago, and Aviary, a bar.

Grantz was awarded:

Best New Chefs, Food & Wine Magazine, 2002
Top Service Award (Chicago), Zagat Survey, 2006
Best Restaurant in America, Gourmet Magazine, 2006
40 Top Chicago Restaurants Ever, Chicago Magazine, #1, 2010
AAA Five Diamond Award, AAA, 2007–2011
Mobil Five Star Award, Mobil Travel Guide, 2007–2010
Jean Banchet Award – Best Celebrity Chef, 2007
Jean Banchet Award – Best Fine Dining, 2007
The S. Pellegrino World's 50 Best Restaurants, #36, 2007
The S. Pellegrino World's 50 Best Restaurants, Highest New Entry, 2007
The S. Pellegrino World's 50 Best Restaurants, #21, 2008
The S. Pellegrino World's 50 Best Restaurants, #10, 2009
The S. Pellegrino World's 50 Best Restaurants, #7, 2010
The S. Pellegrino World's 50 Best Restaurants, The Acqua Panna Best Restaurant In North America, 2010
The S. Pellegrino World's 50 Best Restaurants, #6, 2011
The S. Pellegrino World's 50 Best Restaurants, The Acqua Panna Best Restaurant In North America, 2011
James Beard Foundation Award – Rising Star Chef of the Year, 2003
James Beard Foundation Award – Best Chef: Great Lakes, 2007
James Beard Foundation Award – Outstanding Chef, 2008
James Beard Foundation Award – Book Award: Cooking from a Professional Point of View, 2009
James Beard Foundation Award – Outstanding Service Award, 2010
Zagat Guide "Excellent" Ratings. 2008
Gayot Rating 18/20.
3 Michelin Stars, 2011.
The 2011 TIME 100.

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