Cornish Pasty Co. is officially making its way down to the Old Pueblo.
The restaurant, which has been around since 2005, is planning to open in the historic building at 72 E. Congress St. — a space that’s been vacant on the corner of Congress and Scott Avenue for more than 20 years.
The building was built in 1897 and once housed the Indian Village Trading Post and some banks and drug stores.
Recently, the building was purchased by a group including Zach Fenton, with plans to open a new restaurant concept. However, plans fell through and the building was shown to Cornish Pasty owner Dean Thomas, who grew up in Cornwall, England. He jumped on the opportunity.
Interior construction has already begun but due to preservation requirements, it’ll at least be another year before Cornish Pasty opens.
So, what is a pasty?
A pasty is like a handheld pocket of happiness.
Someone once told me that years ago and it stuck with me.
Originating from Cornwall, England, this flaky pasty is traditionally stuffed with a mix of meat, potatoes, and vegetables, and then baked. Mining was a thriving industry in Cornwall back in the day and at that time pasties were baked for the tin miners to eat on the go. Think of it as one of the original grab-and-go meals.
There’s also a spooky story about pasties that date back to the 1200s.
“The miner’s hands would often be covered in arsenic from the mine, so the miners would discard the handle when they were done. The crusts were never wasted though, as many miners believed that ghosts, or ‘knockers,’ inhabited the mines, and the leftover crusts would keep these ghosts content.”
Aside from pasties, of which there are more than 40 on the menu including at least 10 vegan or vegetarian options, the restaurant serves salads, soups, and other appetizers like wings, Scotch Eggs, and Cornish Meatballs — these are meatballs wrapped in bacon with a side of sauteed onions in a white wine mustard gravy.
The spot will also be a great place to grab a cocktail and challenge friends to a game of pool.
Right now, Cornish Pasty has more than 10 locations spread out around the Phoenix area, in the northern parts of the state including Flagstaff and Jerome, and even a couple spots in Nevada.
Stay tuned for an opening date as we creep into 2025.
Meanwhile, pardon the dust on the corner of Congress Street and Scott Avenue.
Cornish Pasty Co. will be located at 72 E. Congress St. For more information, visit cornishpastyco.com.
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Article written by:
Matt Sterner
More about MattAt a very young age, Matt Sterner was gifted with the artistic ability to masterfully roll a burrito to the highest of standards, but the wrapped medley of delicious innards wasn’t his first love. Matt’s first true love was a combination of reading, writing, and creating. He grew up reading comics, the ingredients list of his shampoo and conditioner bottles, choose-your-own-adventure books, and the Scrabble dictionary — something he found useful when challenging his grandmother to a game.
He attended college at New Mexico State University and graduated with a degree in Digital Filmmaking. One of his favorite classes was screenwriting because he became responsible for the story’s birth before it came to life on-screen. After school, Matt took on numerous positions at a local television station in Tucson. From dealing out stories about heartbreak to producing “fluffier” content for a lifestyle broadcast, he learned what it takes to adapt to the many emotions the world of media can stir. Since 2017, Matt has dabbled in the culinary world of Tucson as well as San Diego, California from time to time.
If you’re in the mood for strange stories, head over to his pride and joy, wonkytimes.com. And in case you’re curious — yes, after all of this time, he still manages to roll a killer burrito.
