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 “best of” lists. She also owns Heirloom Craft Kitchen and Tu Madres Cantina & Grill—both of which are adjacent to Cork & Fork’s sleek new location in Indio.
Credit: Nathan Cox
Credit: Nathan Cox
Credit: Nathan Cox
Credit: Nathan Cox
“We’ve been under construction during the past year,” Hubka says, adding that she and her team designed every aspect of this new space from start to finish. “We’ve moved from a small, hole-in-the-wall space that I would call ‘charming’ to a much larger, beautiful location that has been built from the ground up.” This design includes the kitchen, flooring and ceiling. “We put in soaring windows that fully retract so that we have that indoor-outdoor feel.”
Credit: Nathan Cox
Credit: Nathan Cox
Credit: Nathan Cox
Credit: Nathan Cox
In addition to an indoor space of nearly 3,000 square feet, there is also a spacious patio. This way, desert diners can enjoy the beautiful weather most of the year along with views of the nearby Santa Rosa Mountains. “The cool thing is that we put in multiple dining areas,” she adds, “so now we have two different private rooms as well as a full bar and lounge.” Whether you’re there for a meal or just to enjoy drinks, there’s a seating area perfect for you. And if you’re going for drinks, a full liquor license is also new to this version of the restaurant. “We’ve gone from being a small wine bar to a full-service restaurant and bar,” she says. “We call our drinks ‘culinary cocktails.’ All are made with premium spirits, from-scratch ingredients and cool garnishes, making each cocktail its own little work of art.”
Credit: Nathan Cox
Credit: Nathan Cox
Credit: Nathan Cox
As for its menu, Hubka assures us that Cork & Fork is still offering several of its well-loved items, “but we are offering a lot more options in terms of entrees and larger plates,” she adds. In the past, the restaurant concentrated on small plates because the space was so tiny, but now the kitchen allows them to offer larger offerings, including more pastas and protein entrees. “I’m also excited about our new chef’s tasting menu,” Hubka adds. “This menu highlights seasonal ingredients and whatever inspires us. It can change day to day.”
Credit: Nathan Cox
Credit: Nathan Cox
Credit: Nathan Cox
Credit: Nathan Cox
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. “Not 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.” She describes it as “the best wine club ever” 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.
Credit: Nathan Cox
Credit: Nathan Cox
Credit: Nathan Cox
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. “We’re known for our private parties, either on-site or off-site,” Hubka says. Cork & Fork is also famous for its wine dinners, which are offered weekly during the desert’s high season and sell out quickly. For early access, Hubka encourages people to join the VIP mailing list on Cork & Fork’s website!
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 Petersen’s PHOTOgraphic magazine, and has contributed her writing and/or editorial expertise to Photographer’s Forum, Rangefinder, DoubleExposure.com, California Tour & Travel, Family Photo and Adorama’s Learning Center. She is also the author of Photos That Inspire: Photo Workshop, an instructional book that’s illustrated with more than 200 images by various photographers, published by Wiley & Sons.