Page 16   By Amanda Goossen Photographs By Baxter Imaging Chef Chris Collins At home with A platter of French bread, salami, Midnight Moon and Saint-André cheeses, and vibrant red raspberries sits on the kitchen counter at the Collins’ home as we witness restaurateur and chef, Chris Collins prepare a meal in his home kitchen. “We are as much about food at home as we are at the restaurants,” said Chris. “And we always have a snack while we cook.” Enjoying cheese, Italian meats and breads goes back to his childhood and the days when his dad worked long hours in the family restaurant. “My dad would get home at about 11:30 each night,” said Chris. “My brother, Mike and I would be in bed at 8:30 and wake up at 11:30 to wait for him. Each night he would come home with a brown grocery bag of snacks, usually jam, breads and meats and we’d eat together. Every night for 15 years we did this.” For Mike and Chris, the youngest two boys of six kids, this was a memory they’ll always treasure. Their father and his restaurant were the driving force in their future path. There is even a charcuterie platter on Chris’ menu at Grassroots Kitchen & Tap named Dad’s Grocery Bag in honor of his father. Chris’ interest in a culinary career began as a kid in the kitchen of his father’s restaurant, Wally’s American Pub ’n Grille in Arcadia. He went on to open his first restaurant, Grassroots Kitchen & Tap at Gainey Ranch in 2011 and then another at Town & Country in the Camelback Corridor in February 2014. Twisted Root Parlor and Bar will open in March 2015 next door to the original Grassroots on Via de Ventura and Hayden Road. Matt, Chris’ brother, now owns Wally’s in Arcadia. Wally’s Gainey Ranch is also        Continued on page 17

Page 17   Kitchen In the Recipes on page 18 Proper Trimming Treatment of Sick Trees Deep Root Fertilization Staking /Cabling Stump Grinding Storm Damage Tree Removals Olive Spraying Palm Services Weed Control FREE ESTIMATES! CERTIFIED TREE WORKERS CERTIFIED ARBORISTS WE-7417A WE-7465A WE-6874A 602-808-7781 AZROC #261888 www.UFTCINC.com email: info@uftcinc.com A+ RATED part of the family restaurant group. As Chris expands the company and restaurant group, his Arcadia home is a gathering space for both his business and the family. Chris and his sister purchased the house in 2008 and it quickly became a living space for Chris and his siblings. Over the years his sister moved in, as did two of his brothers and even his best friend. The roommates were constantly changing, until Missy came along. “Missy’s career is in fundraising. She was doing an event with the Boys and Girls Club and I was on the board,” said Chris. While at a fundraising event, Chris told someone FREE City Ready Blueprints with any room addition 2500 E Thomas Rd, Suite 103 Phoenix AZ 85016 he had a crush on Missy. The person looked at him and said, “She likes you, too!” “It was very eighth grade,” said Chris. Although the house is now home for Chris, Missy and their 1-year-old son Topher, the downstairs bedroom is the main office for all five restaurants in the Collins’ Common Ground Culinary restaurant development company. At any given time, family members can be seen coming in and out of the house, keeping tabs on the daily activity that comes from an expanding business. “It’s the family hub,” said Missy, “Everyone has keys, you never know when someone will be here. Although we’ve gotten pretty good at texting or calling to let each other know.” As Chris prepares a meal of Boursin Baked Chicken and Portobello Mushroom Risotto for the Arcadia Home & Design crew, Topher watches closely, sitting in a high chair attached to the counter. He has a front row seat to his father’s work and appears mesmerized by the chopping, peeling and prepping. “I love having him at the counter with me,” said Chris. Giggling and smiling, Topher playfully grabs a handful of Swiss chard and a portabella mushroom and it suddenly looks that the culinary tradition could continue to the next generation.