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Samantha & Craig Cordts-Pearce
Craig Cordts-Pearce was living a peaceful life as a twentysomething in South Africa when he received a postcard of Aspen from a friend. It said, simply, "Come" and he did. By plane, boat, taxi, train, and eventually his thumb, he arrived in Aspen with $40 in his pocket, and began bussing tables at the Caribou Club in the hope of saving enough to buy a blanket for the couch where he was sleeping.
Talent does not go long unrecognized, and soon Craig had worked his was to waiter and then to manager of some of Aspen's hottest restaurants. On his rare nights off he often found himself sitting at a bar in front of a fetching bartender named Samantha. It was love at first sight, at least for Craig.
Samantha herself was no mere ginslinger; she had worked in and managed half a dozen of Aspen's hottest bars and restaurants, and knew more about Aspen than its psychotherapists and lawyers combined. The two started dating and eventually married, then struck out for New York City. In Manhattan, they worked at Mario Batali's Lupa Osteria Romana and Pino Luongo's Coco Pazzo before hearing of a restaurant opportunity back in the mountain town they loved.
The pair cobbled together capital to open The Wild Fig in 2003. Its charming atmosphere and wonderful food soon made it a favorite of locals and visitors alike.
Samantha and Craig have two children (other than their restaurants), Bryce and Alexia.
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