This Beloved Restaurant Got a Major RevampāCome See for Yourself!
Restaurateur Andie Hubka is a classically trained chef, restaurant owner and cookbook author. In 2013, she opened Cork & Fork in La Quinta after hosting weekly get-togethers at her cooking school, Cooking with Class. When these gatherings got so popular that some attendees had to be turned away, Hubka decided to open a restaurant that featured small, shareable plates and wine pairings. This proved to be a winning combo and put Cork & Fork on many ābest ofā lists. She also owns Heirloom Craft Kitchen and Tu Madres Cantina & Grillāboth of which are adjacent to Cork & Forkās sleek new location in Indio.
āWeāve been under construction during the past year,ā Hubka says, adding that she and her team designed every aspect of this new space from start to finish. āWeāve moved from a small, hole-in-the-wall space that I would call ācharmingā to a much larger, beautiful location that has been built from the ground up.ā This design includes the kitchen, flooring and ceiling.
āWe put in soaring windows that fully retract so that we have that indoor-outdoor feel.ā
In addition to an indoor space of nearly 3,000 square feet, there is also a spacious patio. This way, desert diners get the best of both worldsābeautiful weather almost year-round and stunning views to match. The nearby Santa Rosa Mountains create the perfect backdrop for a long, leisurely meal under the sun or stars. āThe cool thing is that we put in multiple dining areas,ā she adds, āso now we have two different private rooms as well as a full bar and lounge.ā Whether youāre there for a meal or just to enjoy drinks, thereās a seating area perfect for you. And if youāre going for drinks, a full liquor license is also new to this version of the restaurant. āWeāve gone from being a small wine bar to a full-service restaurant and bar,ā she says.
āWe call our drinks āculinary cocktails.ā All are made with premium spirits, from-scratch ingredients and cool garnishes, making each cocktail its own little work of art.ā
As for its menu, Hubka assures us that Cork & Fork is still offering several of its well-loved items, ābut we are offering a lot more options in terms of entrees and larger plates,ā she adds. In the past, the restaurant focused on small platesāmainly because the kitchen was tight and space was limited. But times have changed. With a more spacious kitchen now, the team is finally serving up heartier options. That means more pastas, bigger portions, and protein-packed entrĆ©es that truly satisfy.
āIām also excited about our new chefās tasting menu,ā Hubka adds. āThis menu highlights seasonal ingredients and whatever inspires us. It can change day to day.ā
Cork & Fork now offers an exclusive members-only club for an initial cost and yearly dues. According to Hubka, the new Reserve Club is a private group of people who are foodies and wine enthusiasts. āNot only do they have access to a private dining area for their group, but they get all kinds of perks like early entrance to our wine dinners, meet-and-greets with our visiting wine makers, VIP parties and access to culinary wine-driven travel.ā She describes it as āthe best wine club everā because the wineries come to the members, as opposed to them having to leave the Coachella Valley.
To accommodate this new perk, Cork & Fork has created a private Reserve Room with an adjacent Reserve Patio. In terms of wine travel, Hubka is planning an excursion to Italy in September, and Reserve Club members will get the first opportunity to take this exciting wine adventure with her.
As soon as the new Indio restaurant gets its bearings, Cork & Fork will also serve Sunday brunch. The restaurant continues to offer catering and private events. āWeāre known for our private parties, either on-site or off-site,ā Hubka says. Cork & Fork is also famous for its wine dinners, which are offered weekly during the desertās high season and sell out quickly. For early access, Hubka encourages people to join the VIP mailing list on Cork & Forkās website!Ā
Cork & Fork at the Canopy at Citrus
49890 Jefferson St, Ste 101
Indio, CA 92201
760.777.7555
@corkandfork
Lynne Eodice is an accomplished writer & photographer. She is the former Features Editor for Petersenās PHOTOgraphic magazine, and has contributed her writing and/or editorial expertise to Photographerās Forum, Rangefinder, DoubleExposure.com, California Tour & Travel, Family Photo and Adoramaās Learning Center. She is also the author of Photos That Inspire: Photo Workshop, an instructional book thatās illustrated with more than 200 images by various photographers, published by Wiley & Sons.
