Chef
Doug Psaltis | Christian Eckmann
- Discipline
- Chef
- Based in
- Chicago, Illinois, United States
i. Biography
The work at Asador Bastian in Chicago is the clearest expression of Doug Psaltis | Christian Eckmann’s cooking: measured, disciplined, and built around fire, texture, and precision. Earlier time in San Sebastián and Chicago sits behind that approach, giving the restaurant a frame that reads as both Basque-leaning and city-specific without losing trade focus.
The Climb
The building of a restaurant group is the craft line here. Doug’s roles as founder of Eat Well Hospitality, founder of Andros Taverna, founder of Mano a Mano, and founder of Asador Bastian point to a career shaped by opening, organizing, and carrying a point of view from one kitchen to the next. The momentum is visible in the titles, but the work underneath is the familiar one to any operator: making places hold together.
Today
Chef at Asador Bastian in Chicago is the current assignment, and it places Doug in a role that brings earlier cooking time in San Sebastián and Chicago into the present tense. The position is exacting by design. It asks for a restaurant identity that is clear on the plate and consistent in the room, with the city as the setting and the chef’s prior experience as the working context.
Signature
Txuleton, Tortilla Española, and Arroz cremoso define the signature language here. The dishes stay close to Spanish tradition, but the lineup is not about nostalgia; it is about control, balance, and a usable vocabulary for a Basque-influenced chophouse. Txuleton carries the weight of the grill, Tortilla Española shows what restraint can do with a familiar format, and Arroz cremoso rounds out the set with a softer register.
Recognition
Asador Bastian is a Chicago chophouse with Basque influences, and that description does useful work: it places the restaurant in a recognizable format while making room for the influence that shapes it. In that sense, the recognition is in the construction itself—Chicago framework, Basque signal, and a chef’s hand informed by time spent cooking in San Sebastián and Chicago.
Profile updated July 2026
FAQ
Asked of Doug
What is Doug Psaltis | Christian Eckmann known for?
Doug Psaltis | Christian Eckmann is known as Chef of Asador Bastian in Chicago.
What are Doug Psaltis | Christian Eckmann's most notable roles?
The most notable roles are chef at Asador Bastian and former executive chef at Ambria under Gabino Sotelino.
