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Fireproof
"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.
These discussion questions were provided by the future of agency.
Book club questions for Fireproof by Curtis Duffy and Jeremy Wagner
Use these discussion questions to guide your next book club meeting.
How did Duffy shape his philosophy about food and recipes? What stood out to you the most as he writes about his process?
How familiar were you with Chef Curtis Duffy before picking up this book? What made you interested in reading his story?
What were your first impressions of Duffy’s parents, Bear and Jan? How did your impressions of Duffy’s parents and the larger Duffy clan change as you learned more about Chef Curtis Duffy’s upbringing?
Why do you think Duffy was so determined to get out of Ohio? Do you think there was a particular moment that crystallized his desire to leave? Which moment, and why?
Duffy writes: “I’ll go to my own grave wondering what [Bear] would’ve said—and whether I perhaps could’ve convinced him to peacefully abandon his madness” (p. 82). How do you think you might have reacted if you were in Duffy’s shoes during the tragic events of September 1994? In your opinion, how was Duffy able to move forward after these events?
Despite the abuse Duffy experienced growing up, he holds his parents in high esteem. How do we see Duffy honor his parents throughout the book? What do Bear and Jan mean to him, despite their shortcomings?
From childhood and Duffy’s early years in Chicago, to For Grace and Ever, how do we see Duffy taking control of his own story? Why is it important to him to control the narrative of his own life?
What does Duffy learn from Charlie Trotter about food and flavor? What does he learn about being an executive chef and mentor?
How is Duffy affected by early success at Avenues? How does this inform and shape his views on the cult of celebrity and celebrity chefs?
“Dreams of a third Michelin star danced in my head,” Duffy writes of the days before Grace opened its doors (p. 142). What does the pursuit of greatness mean to Duffy? How do we see that through his trajectory with Guide Michelin, among other awards?
Consider the juxtaposition of the expense and lavishness of fine dining and Duffy’s “dirt poor” upbringing in Ohio. What does it mean to Duffy to be able to spare no expense to execute his vision for Grace, and later, for Ever and After?
How did you react to Dolos’s increasing treachery? How would you have responded to the lawsuits and hostile work environment if you were Duffy or Michael Muser?
What does the loss of Grace mean to Duffy? Was it worth it, in your opinion?
Who are the partners, colleagues, mentors that help Duffy along the way? Who do you think is most influential in Duffy’s life?
What sacrifices does Duffy make in his pursuit of excellence? How does this affect him and his worldview in the long run? How does he learn from his early sacrifices?
Compare how Duffy handles the stress, sacrifices, and pressure of maintaining a multipleMichelin starred restaurant to how we hear about other chefs in the same position. How does Duffy maintain his balance? What is his “north star” among all the pressure?
Fireproof Book Club Questions PDF
Click here for a printable PDF of the Fireproof discussion questions