Supper with Sylvia Perez - Chicago's Foodie Podcast
Pull up a chair and join Emmy Award-winning journalist Sylvia Perez for Supper With Sylvia Perez. In this podcast, Chicago’s most fascinating chefs, celebrities, and changemakers share unforgettable stories over a delicious meal.
From Food Network stars to cultural icons, each episode blends mouthwatering conversation with the flavors that make Chicago a world-class food destination.
🌟 Featured Guests Who Inspire and Entertain
Past episodes have welcomed an extraordinary lineup, including:
- Al Roker, Today Show legend and culinary enthusiast
- Jeff Mauro, Food Network star and Sandwich King himself
- Chef Art Smith, celebrity chef and Oprah’s former personal chef
- Rick Bayless, award-winning chef and restaurateur
…and many more newsmakers, chefs, and personalities shaping Chicago’s culture and cuisine.
🎙️ What You’ll Discover
Each week, Supper With Sylvia Perez serves up:
✅ Authentic, unscripted interviews that go beyond the headlines
✅ Behind-the-scenes stories from kitchens, newsrooms, and stages
✅ Recipes and culinary inspiration to try at home
✅ A celebration of Chicago’s diverse food scene and the people who fuel it
Whether you’re a food lover, a storytelling fan, or simply curious about the voices behind your favorite restaurants and headlines, this podcast will feed your curiosity and your appetite.
📲 Listen & Subscribe
Follow Supper With Sylvia Perez wherever you get your podcasts and never miss an episode of Chicago’s most flavorful conversations.
Produced by Jane Stephens
Music, Audio and Technical Support by Donnie Cutting
Director of Digital Operations and Social Media Magali Blasdell
Supper with Sylvia Perez - Chicago's Foodie Podcast
Chef Curtis Duffy: Fireproof Journey from Tragedy to Michelin Stars
In this deeply moving live episode of Supper with Sylvia, recorded at Curtis Duffy’s After lounge, Sylvia sits down with the celebrated chef and author of Fireproof: Memoir of a Chef. Together, they explore the raw edges of Curtis’s journey—from traumatic beginnings in rural Ohio to becoming one of the most celebrated culinary figures in the world. This is a conversation about survival, reinvention, and the healing power of craft.
Episode Overview
Curtis opens up about his turbulent childhood, marked by instability and adversity. Growing up in rural Ohio with a father in an outlaw biker gang and scarce resources, he discovered refuge in cooking through a high school Home Economics class and vocational culinary programs. These early sparks would lead him to some of the most prestigious kitchens in the country.
At just nineteen, his life was shattered by tragedy when his stepmother was kidnapped and his father died in a murder-suicide after a standoff with police. In Fireproof, Curtis shares how facing this unimaginable trauma became a turning point, forcing him to find purpose in discipline, creativity, and hard work. Writing the memoir was his way of confronting the past—putting it on paper so it could lose its power over him.
From Kitchen Apprentice to Michelin Starred Chef
Curtis’s culinary ascent began in Chicago under the mentorship of iconic chefs like Charlie Trotter and Grant Achatz. At Avenues, he earned two Michelin stars, then co-founded Grace, where he achieved the rare honor of three Michelin stars for four consecutive years. Yet at the height of Grace’s acclaim, he made the difficult decision to walk away, valuing integrity and creative freedom over comfort and prestige.
Writing Fireproof
In collaboration with author Jeremy Wagner, Curtis crafted Fireproof as an unflinching memoir that blends the intensity of metal music, the grit of outlaw culture, and the artistry of fine dining. The book has been described as “Anthony Bourdain’s Kitchen Confidential meets Sons of Anarchy,” offering an intimate look at both the brutality and beauty of his life.
Themes You’ll Hear in This Episode
- How Curtis turned personal tragedy into a lifelong pursuit of excellence
- The discipline and intentionality behind a Michelin-starred kitchen
- The decision to leave Grace and rebuild on his own terms
- Why Fireproof is as much about healing as it is about cooking
Buy Curtis' book on Amazon: Amazon.com: Fireproof (Audible Audio Edition): Curtis Du
📌Check out SupperwithSylvia on Instagram.
📩Email us at SupperwithSylvia@gmail.com
This episode is brought to you by MARIANO'S.
🛒 Proudly Sponsored by Mariano’s
Looking for local flavor you can bring home? Discover chef-crafted sauces, pastas, oils, and more from your favorite Chicago chefs — now available through Mariano’s We Love Local program. Support local artisans, savor authentic taste, and celebrate Chicago’s culinary spirit with every bite.
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Social Media Marketing: Magali Blasdell
Video and Audio Editor: Donnie Cutting
Marketing and Media Relations: Julie Lokun
Producer: Jennifer Waters