Michigan Avenue - Niche Media - Michigan Avenue magazine is a luxury lifestyle magazine centered around Chicago’s finest people, events, fashion, health & beauty, fine dining & more!
Issue link: http://digital.greengale.com/i/61757
Partners in Crime Michael Kornick (left) and David Morton have been friends since they were kids. michael kornick & david morton TOP RESTAURANT FAMILIES. TOGETHER, THEIR PARTNERSHIP IS A RECIPE FOR SUCCESS. by audarshia townsend T o say that Michael Kornick and David Morton have been friends since childhood is hardly an understatement. They grew up down the street from each other in Highland Park. Kornick was in the same class as Morton's sister Amy; became good family friends with the Mortons; and honed his culinary skills at Morton's legendary restaurateur father, Arnie. two restaurants owned by As adults, both remained in the food world—Kornick taking his place in the kitchen, while Morton followed in his dad's entrepreneurial steps—and after separate awards and accolades, the duo became business partners in 2009, taking the classic burger to the next level with gourmet burger spot DMK. Two years later, in early 2011, they brought their same innovative approach to seafood with their second spot, Fish Bar. Now, Kornick and Morton add a third concept to their portfolio, a small-plates spot in East Bucktown dubbed Ada Street. The restaurant, located in an underpubli- cized area of Bucktown, offers upscale bar cocktails, and a well-curated wine list atmosphere. food, small plates, craft in a rustic "modern-tavern" 62 michiganavemag.com ONE IS AN AWARD-WINNING CHEF, THE OTHER IS A SUCCESSFUL OFFSPRING OF ONE OF CHICAGO'S Kornick boasts credentials that make foodies swoon. He is the award- winning chef behind MK, has been nominated for five James Beard Awards, and is a partner in the N9NE restaurant group. But it's his partner- ship with Morton that has made them a restaurant-scene powerhouse. "There's a tremendous amount of mutual respect," says Morton about his relationship with Kornick. "Michael and I have very similar values and our restaurants reflect that. We also have different skills that we bring to the table that are very complementary." Kornick shares similar sentiments: "David's the hardest-working guy I've ever had the pleasure of [being associated] with. Over time, one of the things that is important to a partnership is that we have the empathy to make it work even when we disagree." After Ada Street, Kornick and Morton will turn their attention to their mul- tiple projects on deck, including a new Taylor Street spot. It's a collaboration on the fast track and with no end in sight. Boasts Morton, "Our partnership works so well because our favorite ideas are those that come from the other's mouth." 1664 Ada St., 773-697-7069; adastreetchicago.com MA photography by saverio truglia; grooming by loni hale for chicagoemergingartists.com