Kitchen Doors: A Culinary Canvas
Chef Christopher Gross creates his masterpiece at Wrigley Mansion
In addition to being one of Arizona’s most celebrated chefs, Christopher Gross has a love for art.
A native of Missouri, Gross moved to Phoenix as a boy and grew up with a strong work ethic, working at Baskin-Robbins and Jack in the Box. As a teenager, a job at the Adams Hotel in downtown Phoenix exposed him to French cuisine, which would become his lifetime passion.
When the hotel closed, Gross moved to Los Angeles and did a stint at the Century Plaza Hotel. He worked tirelessly to save money to go to Europe to hone his craft. After a few years, Gross made his way to London and then sent letters to Michelin-starred restaurants in Paris looking for work. He got a job at a two-Michelin-star restaurant in Paris and worked as a pastry chef in Normandy before returning to Los Angeles.
Eventually, Gross made his way back to Phoenix, where he has been a leader in the culinary scene for more than four decades, sharing his love of wine and French food. Along the way, he earned several impressive awards from the James Beard Foundation, “Food & Wine” magazine and many others.
After opening and closing several namesake restaurants in Phoenix over the years, Gross renovated and rebuilt the kitchen at the historic Wrigley Mansion. In 2021, he opened Christopher’s at the Wrigley Mansion to rave reviews from critics and diners alike.
“It was my dream to build a centrally located restaurant with the best view and the best wine list, and it has exceeded my expectations,” Gross said. “I want the restaurant to be an experience where guests are entertained from their tastebuds to their eyes with fun surprises throughout.”
Some of those surprises include artistic touches like Arcosanti bells designed as cloches, plates with Gross’s own cartoons on them and drawers in the tables where silverware is playfully hidden.
In addition to the tasting menu available Thursday through Saturday, guests can enjoy Christopher’s Classics menu on Tuesday and Wednesday, which includes dishes from Christopher’s former restaurants. There are also small plate options with French favorites like escargot and foie gras torchon.
Gross has a history of philanthropy. In 1991, he founded the Flavors fundraising event for the American Liver Foundation. He enjoys mentoring his staff as well as students, including middle and high school students in the Careers for Culinary Arts Program, which provides teens a pathway to success through culinary, job and life skills. Gross also serves on the Ment’or Culinary Council, a network of acclaimed chefs who offer their expertise and knowledge to inspire culinary excellence in young professionals.
Gross has seen incredible growth in the Phoenix culinary scene over the years. “The talent is getting better, the wine scene is improving, and the culinary community works together so well,” he said. “I’m happy to be a part of it.”
To learn more, go to wrigleymansion.com/christophers.
