Grant Achatz

38, Chicago, Illinois

POSITION: Executive chef and co-owner of Alinea and Next

NOTABLE FOR: Restlessly exploring the idea of the modern restaurant. His first restaurant, Alinea, boasts one of the most innovative menus in the world. His second, Next, helmed by Chef Dave Beran, adopted an online ticket system for reservations (a sort of Stub- Hub approach) and a menu that is rethemed every three months. Soon, the eternally restless Achatz may take Alinea to new cities as a sort of pop-up road show. Also up next: a documentary film, a possible cooking show, and a food-based installation in Chicago’s Museum of Contemporary Art.

TWITTER: @gachatz