“We have steam tables with fresh, hot food made daily,” says Mary Jo. “I’m Filipino so I really want to introduce Filipino food to the local people.” Think pancit, a traditional Filipino noodle dish. Chris’s specialty is grilling, so there will also be plenty of grilled chicken, pork, and vegetables, plus grab-and-go salads.
From What’s Cooking in Sheffield?
I was…excited to learn that Chris and Mary Jo Gore were moving into the space. Chris was chef de cuisine and Mary Jo was a line cook at The Old Mill until owner Terry Moore closed its doors last year. After a six-month break—“We were exhausted,” says Mary Jo—the two leased the Sugar & Rye building from owners Pierre Cum and Candice Richner (GB Eats) and, at this writing, were planning to open Chris & MJ’s in March.
“We’re planning to have steam tables with fresh, hot food made daily,” says Mary Jo. “I’m Filipino so I really want to introduce Filipino food to the local people.” Think pancit, a traditional Filipino noodle dish. Chris’s specialty is grilling, so there will also be plenty of grilled chicken, pork, and vegetables, plus grab-and-go salads. Fun fact: The couple is naming their restaurant after a sign (pictured) that Mary Jo’s father, a woodworker, made and presented to them when he first met Chris in 2001. Now, Chris’s father is making a new sign for the restaurant, based upon the original sign, which remains in the couple’s home.
“I really want to emphasize that we are here for the locals,” says Mary Jo. “The Berkshires have been so kind to our family, and we just want to give back to the community.”
