Akhtar Nawab forged his reputation in the crucible of Gramercy Tavern and Craft in the company of Tom Colicchio, David Chang, Damon Wise, Karen DeMasco, Marco Canora, and other innovators who have shaped America's restaurant culture. When he left to open a place of his own at 28, he felt like he was ready. Hindsight is a powerful thing, and a decade after Elettaria's closure, Nawab has some powerful perspective on just how unprepared he was at the time, what he's learned as a businessperson, chef, father, and human being, and how he's applying that knowledge to his new restaurants, food hall projects, and relationships.

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