Opening just one long-lived, much-loved restaurant in a super-competitive city would be a dream come true for most chefs. Along with his One-Off Hospitality business partners, Paul Kahan has been keeping Chicagoans happily fed since 1997, with restaurants like Blackbird, Publican, Avec (and plenty others) each offering their own distinct menu, vibe, and area of particular expertise. Yet rather than burning out from all the tasks at hand, Kahan manages to stay impressively balanced, focused, and always evolving. While he was on the road to promote his new cookbook Cooking for Good Times, Kahan sat down for an open-hearted conversation about leadership, why humility is the key to enduring partnerships, and the power of live music.

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