Christopher Gross 

Chef/Director
Christopher’s at Wrigley Mansion 

Christopher Gross — Full Bio

Based in Phoenix, AZ, Christopher Gross is a James Beard Foundation Award-winning chef (’95) who has been recognized among the best in the United States, including earning an 18/20 rating by Gayot Guide for Best French Restaurant, Best 10 Restaurant Wine Lists, Best 10 Restaurants with a View, and Best Romantic Restaurants. Recently, he was honored by DiRona (Distinguished Restaurants of North America) and the Ment'or Culinary Council.

One of the most important moments at the start of his career was the opportunity to work with Chef Andee Mena, and later with Chef Walter Roth of the Century Plaza Hotel. Chef Roth helped Christopher secure a position in London, which ultimately led him to Paris a year later. They were truly the foundation of his career, and he attributes the course of his career — and much of his success — to their early belief in his potential.

Famed for his modern twists on classic French fare, Chef Christopher’s newest creation, Christopher’s at Wrigley Mansion, earned a 2022 James Beard Outstanding Chef nomination and received the Arizona Republic’s five-star rating as Phoenix’s most innovative, enticing dining experience for its exclusive tasting-menu experience where the chefs personally serve each dish. Named to the Scottsdale Culinary Hall of Fame in 2016, Chef Christopher has also been honored by Food & Wine magazine’s “America’s 10 Best New Chefs,” was the first chef in Arizona to be honored with the Robert Mondavi Culinary Award of Excellence, and created the now-national "Flavors" fundraiser for the American Liver Association.

A native of Trenton, Missouri, Chef Christopher grew up in Phoenix, where at the age of 14 he found his first passion: motorcycles. But after taking a job at a local restaurant just to earn enough to buy his own bike, he stumbled into his true calling — food. Although he didn’t reach Paris by motorcycle, his love for the kitchen carried him across the world. He has proudly cooked for three U.S. Presidents and shared kitchens with legendary figures such as Jacques Pépin, Julia Child, and Martha Stewart.

Starting as an intern at the Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles, Christopher honed his craft cooking in kitchens from London to Paris to Normandy, and then back to LA. Returning to Arizona, he was named one of Food & Wine’s “America’s 10 Best New Chefs” in 1989 before launching his first restaurant, Christopher’s & Christopher’s Bistro, in 1990. Later, he reopened as Christopher’s Fermier and then Christopher’s and Crush Lounge, which he operated until 2018 when he moved to the historic Wrigley Mansion. After reinvigorating the on-site Geordie’s Restaurant and Lounge, Chef Christopher opened the striking modernist restaurant Christopher’s at Wrigley Mansion in 2021.

Still a passionate motorcyclist, Chef Christopher also supports numerous philanthropic efforts. He helped found the Arizona chapter of the American Institute of Wine and Food (AIWF), advises both the James Beard Foundation and the Art Institute of Phoenix, and previously served on the board of the American Liver Foundation, where he launched the “Flavors of Phoenix” fundraiser — a concept still thriving 30 years later in 20 different cities.

National Awards/Lists

– 2022 Restaurant Awards, Memorable Dinners of 2022
– Best French Restaurants in the U.S.A.
– Best 10 Restaurant Wine Lists in the U.S.A.
– Best 10 Restaurants with a View in the U.S.A.
– Best Romantic Restaurants in the U.S.A.
– GAYOT Rating: 18/20
– DiRona (Distinguished Restaurants of North America)
– Ment’or Culinary Council

Local Awards/Lists

– Phoenix/Scottsdale Best Restaurants
– Best Phoenix/Scottsdale French Restaurants
– Best Phoenix/Scottsdale Outdoor Dining Restaurants
– Best Phoenix/Scottsdale Romantic Restaurants
– Best Phoenix/Scottsdale Special Occasion Restaurants
– Best Phoenix/Scottsdale Wine List Restaurants

Chef Awards

Applause! Gala for The Phoenix Theatre Company
– 2023 Humanitarian Award

James Beard Foundation
– Winner: 1995 Best Chef: Southwest
– Semifinalist: 2022 Outstanding Chef
– Semifinalist: 1993 Best Chef
– Southwest: 1994 Best Chef: Southwest

Robert Mondavi Culinary Award of Excellence

Scottsdale Culinary Hall of Fame
– 2016 “Lifetime Achievement Award”

Media Coverage on Christopher’s at Wrigley Mansion

“When you’d like to prove to your snooty out-of-state friends that Phoenix is a sophisticated food town, worthy of international attention, there’s only one place to go, and that’s sleek, sexy Christopher’s, perched on the hill it shares with Wrigley Mansion. Glass walls offer spectacular views of city lights, and the wine list (culled from the best cellar in the state) outstrips any in town.” – Nikki Buchanan, Phoenix Magazine

“Christopher’s at The Wrigley Mansion had to live up to a lot of hype. Instead, it exceeded even the loftiest expectations with its eight-course tasting menu boasting whimsical plates featuring Wagyu beef, caviar, truffles, and foie gras.” – Alison Bailin Batz, So Scottsdale! Magazine

Mark Stock of The Manual included Christopher’s on the 25 nationwide restaurants that readers needed to visit. Among the taste compliments, Stock stated that the food was “served with a presentation caliber not often seen—anywhere.”

Locally acclaimed dining critic for AZ Central, Andi Berlin gave Christopher’s a five-star review following her visit.

Many dishes at the newly opened restaurant are garnering media attention from people like Phoenix Magazine writer Nikki Buchanan. Notable mentions include the crispy potato croquette that is served in a mold of the Wrigley Mansion owner Jamie Hormel’s palm, “egg in an egg in an egg,” and pancetta cured D’Artagnan lamb.

A standout component of the experience at Christopher’s is that the staff members who prepare your food also serve it to you. Christopher pioneered a training concept for his staff where they not only learn how to prepare the dishes but also demonstrate the people skills necessary to complete the experience. A more detailed recount of this is featured in Dena Roche’s piece in Iconic Life: “Christopher Gross Returns with His Best New Restaurant Yet.”