Alinea's Grant Achatz Diagnosed with Cancer
A few minutes ago, New York Times Dining section editor Pete Wells broke the sobering news that 33-year-old Alinea chef-partner Grant Achatz has an advanced form of cancer of the mouth.
Here is Achatz's statement released by his publicist:
I wanted to personally report that I have been very recently diagnosed with an advanced stage of squamous cell carcinoma of the mouth. I have consulted several prominent physicians and will likely begin aggressive treatment within the next few weeks. I remain, and will remain, actively and optimistically engaged in operations at Alinea to the largest extent possible. Alinea will continue to perform at the level people have come to expect from us—I insist on that. I have received amazing support from friends, family, and everyone who has thus far been told of the disease, and I look forward to a full, cancer-free, recovery.
Wells himself wrote one of the earliest and most thoughtful profiles of Achatz a couple of years ago for Food & Wine. Our prayers and thoughts are with Grant, perhaps America's most innovative and influential young chef.
Add a comment:
Previewing your comment:
HTML Hints
Some HTML is OK: <a href="URL">link</a>, <strong>strong</strong>, <em>em</em>
Comment Guidelines
Post whatever you want, just keep it seriously about eats, seriously. We reserve the right to delete off-topic or inflammatory comments. Learn more at our Comment Policy page.
If you see something not so nice, please, report an inappropriate comment.
3 Comments:
In an age where chefs glorify all of the trappings of self-destructive bad boy behavior (cocaine abuse, petrified livers, screwing around) Grant is one of the few who presents himself as serious, precocious and stable. I couldn't be more miserable or depressed to hear about this.
You're in my prayers, Grant...
strozzapreti at 7:02PM on 07/23/07
Indeed. Our night at Alinea was far and away the best -- and most inventive -- meal we'd ever had. We're hoping modern medicine can do its thing, and quickly. Our thoughts are with you, Chef!
sippey at 8:51PM on 07/23/07
Our thoughts are definitely with you and your family!
mattbites at 10:02PM on 07/23/07