Christopher Gross

Personal

Gross began his career at age 14 when saving for a special motorbike was his motivation for taking a job in a local restaurant. He spent the next several decades working in world-renowned kitchens, including Thierry Restaurant in London, Michelin starred Chez Albert in Paris and L'Orangerie in Los Angeles. In Phoenix, Gross served as Chef de Cuisine at La Champagne (Registry Resort in Scottsdale) and then as Chef at Le Relais. In 1990, he opened Christopher's and Christopher's Bistro, in the Biltmore area, and in 1998, he opened Christopher's Fermier Brasserie & Paola’s Wine Bar in Biltmore Fashion Park. His newest endeavor is Christopher’s & Crush Lounge, co-owned with Paola Embry and located in Biltmore Fashion Park. He is a James Beard award-winning chef with a hobby racing Ducati motorcycles.

Recognition

In 1995, Gross won the James Beard Award, and in 1997 he was the first chef in Arizona to win the Robert Mondavi Culinary Award of Excellence. Food & Wine magazine named Gross one of America's 10 Best New Chefs in 1989. In 2016 he was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Scottsdale Culinary Hall of Fame.

Christopher's current endeavor is Christopher's Restaurant and Crush Lounge at the Biltmore Fashion Park, Phoenix, Az. It consistently earns recognition, including 2015 Best French Restaurant from Phoenix New Times, 2015 Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator, and 2015 Diner's Choice from Open Table.

Previously, Christopher’s Fermier Brasserie & Paola’s Wine Bar was named America’s Best Restaurant, Phoenix & Scottsdale (Gourmet Magazine 2002), Best French Restaurant in Best of Phoenix 2002, 2003 2012 (Phoenix New Times), and Best Lunch in The Rep’s Best of 2002 (Arizona Republic). PBS Channel Eight featured Christopher's and Crush Lounge in its show, Check Please

Gross was a featured chef for the James Beard Foundation Dinner of the Decade, "A Salute to Peter Kump," the 2002 Salt Lake Winter Olympic Games, and he cooked for President Ford, President Reagan, President Bush, Vice President Al Gore and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Media and Consulting

Gross has consulted for Club Med, Crystal Cruises, Cunard Cruise Lines and Disney. He served on panels with Jacques Pepin and Julia Child at the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen, and he and his recipes are in cookbooks and television shows, including the Julia Child PBS series, and the cookbook "In the Kitchen with Master Chefs," "Chef's Night Out," "Best of Food & Wine," "Art Culinaire," "America's Best Chefs," and "Grand Finales."

Community Involvement

Gross began the Arizona chapter of the American Institute of Wine and Food (AIWF) and served as its founding chairman. He is on the National Council for the American Liver Foundation, was the co-founder of the American Liver Foundation’s “Flavors of Phoenix” events, and was a former Chair of the Share Our Strength’s “Taste of the Nation” events. Gross was also on the National Advisory Board for the James Beard Foundation and the Advisory Board of the Art Institute of Phoenix.