Cozy Cuisine
A few years back, Robert and Danielle Morris were looking for a location to open a restaurant and also a place to live. Fortunately for Chandler residents, they were looking here.
The house was the easy part, as they closed on their Ocotillo home in March of 2005. Three years to the day, they opened Cork restaurant. “We had a lot of friends who had moved to Chandler and we really liked the area,” says Robert. “We found a great house and then started looking for the right location for a restaurant.”
The Cork - Chandler, AZ
Cork is a full-service restaurant serving lunch and dinner Tuesday-Saturday and brunch on Sunday. The dinner cuisine is “small plates-style,” which means the portion sizes are smaller; sort of like a tasting menu, only a la carte.
Instead of committing to one large entrée, guests at Cork are given the opportunity to try many different items they wouldn’t normally order. You can have a small portion of buffalo, seared scallop and Colorado lamb chop in the same meal…for only around $30.
When looking over Cork’s menus, entrees are priced accordingly to the smaller portions. But Robert says the portions are not so small as to be filling. Patrons can share three or four plates and come away satisfied.
The restaurant also features a great wine selection and outstanding desserts, such as the Nana Crusted Pie, which Danielle makes herself.
The Morrises have been working the food and beverage industry collectively for 25 years. Robert’s background is in front of the house management, wine and bartending in such establishments as Lon’s at the Hermosa, Barcelona and Kona Grill.
Danielle is a pastry chef who has also worked at Lon’s and Renoir at the Mirage Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. Currently, Robert and Danielle are part-owners in Stax Burger Bistro in Scottsdale.
Brian Peterson, Cork’s Executive Chef/Owner, is originally from the Chicago area and has worked in the food service industry for more than 12 years. In the Valley of the Sun, he has held Chef de Cuisine positions at both Lon’s at the Hermosa and the Boulder’s Resort.
SIDEBAR- Wine With Cork
Cork is now offering a mid-week escape! Head to the bar between 5 and 7 p.m. on Wednesdays and sample five wines along with seasonal hors d’oeuvres from Chef Brian Peterson for $25. In addition, you will receive $15 off any bottle featured. Join the list of e-mail contacts for a sneak peek of next week’s wine theme.
Also, on September 15, Cork will feature a six-course dinner featuring Mat Garretson of Paso Robles, California’s Garretson Wine Company. Garretson will be sharing his thoughts about his passion for Rhone varietals that has earned him national acclaim. Dinner begins at 6:30 p.m. Cost is $95 and included gratuity.
Written by James Anderson
Photography by Martin Christopher
