Taste
CUISINE
CHEF CONVERSATIONS In the kitchen with Chris Fisher of Kelly’s at Southbridge
Executive chef Chris Fisher is all about bringing a little upscale flavor – and new savory options – to the comfort food-focused menu at gastropub Kelly’s at Southbridge.
BY ALISON BAILIN BATZ / PHOTO BY DEBBY WOLVOS
First, thank you for serving our country. Can you share some of your military background? While I started cooking as a young child thanks to my Aunt June, I come from a military family. I enlisted in the Navy at 17 years old, serving tours in Panama and Iraq during Desert Storm, and then serving again in Afghanistan after 9/11 in 2001. How did you formally transition to being a chef? I earned my business degree from Indiana University and then decided to attend culinary school. My first big break came when I moved to Los Angeles and earned a catering captain position at Spago by Wolfgang Puck in Beverly Hills. There, I had the opportunity to produce dinners for the Academy Awards, Emmy Awards and movie premieres. When did you make your way to Arizona? In 2013, my best friend moved to the Valley and raved about it. When the house next door to him became available, I moved out here and we became neighbors. Since making my way to Arizona, I’ve helped develop menus for Ak-Chin UltraStar Multi-tainment Center, Blue Clover, Dorian and more. What is your vision for the menu at Kelly’s? I joined Kelly’s in March 2018, and my plan isn’t to reinvent the wheel. Instead, I want to take the pub fare and give it some nuance, elevating our dishes but still keeping our comfort food vibe. Oh, and adding brunch is a priority this fall. What is your favorite thing to make when not working? Reservations! Seriously, I love nothing more than sampling other local chefs’ menus. My favorites are Southern Rail, Beckett’s Table, Clever Koi, Pig & Pickle and Chula Seafood. What would we be surprised to know about you? Don’t let my bearded biker look fool you. You can often find me sipping Earl Grey tea while enjoying a good book. Kelly’s at Southbridge, 7117 E. 6th Ave., Scottsdale; 480.393.3205; www.kellysatsouthbridge.com.
So Scottsdale! August ‘18
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