Step into Episode 172 of ‘On the Delo’ as David DeLorenzo sits down with Chef Cory, owner of the acclaimed COURSE restaurant, for an inspiring conversation about transforming from a dairy farm boy in Iowa to a James Beard-recognized chef in Scottsdale. Chef Cory opens up about his unexpected pivot from architecture to culinary arts, the brutal but transformative mentorship under Chef Ivan Flowers, and how his farming roots still influence his approach to fine dining today.
From surviving the pressure cooker environment at Different Point of View to winning in front of Martha Stewart on Food Network's ‘Chopped’, Chef Cory shares the real story behind building COURSE—including the challenges of opening during COVID, creating approachable fine dining, and why he chose to put his restaurant next to a Pita Jungle. This episode dives deep into restaurant operations, work-life balance as a chef-owner, and the evolution of Phoenix's culinary scene into a world-class destination.
Chapter Guide (Timestamps):(00:02 - 02:46) Introduction: Welcome to Episode 172 with Chef Chef Cory(02:46 - 06:05) Farm Roots: From Pearl City Dairy Farm to Arizona Architecture Dreams(06:05 - 09:01) Culinary School to Kitchen Hell: Learning Under Chef Ivan Flowers(09:01 - 13:47) Career Climb: Different Point of View, Sedona, Teaching, and Binkley's(13:47 - 15:21) Food Network Fame: The Chopped Experience and Opening Doors(15:21 - 20:10) Building COURSE: Finding the Perfect Scottsdale Location(20:10 - 25:05) Restaurant Philosophy: Making Fine Dining Approachable and Fun(25:05 - 29:10) Work-Life Balance: Family Time and the Chef's Dilemma(29:10 - 31:00) Community Support: Phoenix's Rising Culinary Scene(31:00 - 33:35) Chef Lifestyle: Staying Fit in a Food-Focused Career(33:35 - 36:28) Future Vision: Expansion Plans and Final Thoughts
👉 If this conversation inspired you to support local restaurants or chase your own culinary dreams, hit SUBSCRIBE for more entrepreneur stories from the hospitality world. Drop a COMMENT with your favorite local chef, and share this episode with someone who needs to hear about turning passion into purpose.
LINKS:🔗 Connect with DELO: https://linktr.ee/iamthedelo📚 Grab DELO's Free eBook: https://iamthedelo.com/3f-method-book📲 DELO's Preferred Business Service Partners: https://iamthedelo.com/connect💡 FREE Entrepreneur Community: https://linktr.ee/builtdifferentmastermind📘 Facebook: https://facebook.com/IAmTheDelo📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/iamthedelo📌 LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/daviddelorenzo1
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