100 staff kept employed during renovation
When Alinea closed for renovation in 2016, Achatz ran a pop-up in Madrid to keep all 100 employees paid rather than laying anyone off.
Snapshot · Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard
Grant Achatz (award-winning chef)
Explore episode
Jul 15, 2026
Where this was said
Long-Term Effects of Radiation and Eating Today
At 48:40 · chapter starts 48:30
Years after the cancer was beaten, Achatz still lives with its aftermath. Radiation from collarbone to nose caused lasting atrophy: the flap of tissue that covers the windpipe during swallowing no longer folds properly, making every meal a careful logistical exercise. Seven years ago, radiation-related gum recession caused a severe infection that required pulling all his lower teeth, further restricting his ability to chew. The irony is multilayered: the world's most celebrated chef cannot eat freely. When he dines at other restaurants, colleagues who recognize him inevitably want to serve him the entire menu. The social awkwardness of declining, navigating, and explaining is a constant companion. Achatz discusses it with characteristic composure, describing his relationship with food now as simply 'complex.'
How Dishes Are Born
Achatz doesn't wake up with recipe ideas. His process is research-heavy: studying forgotten dishes, eating at markets in Japan or Mexico, or starting with a painting — a Caravaggio, then a Mondrian — and trying to replicate its aesthetic on the plate. When he smells a tomato, his mind goes somewhere. Everything passes through a food filter.
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