Staff

Chef S. Dean Corbett

Proprietor/Chef

Chef S. Dean Corbett's extensive culinary background includes restaurant, hotel and private club experiences. Chef Corbett started in Dallas, Texas at the renowned Chandler's Landing Yacht Club and at the Dallas based Ram's Head Restaurant. After these experiences, he realized that a career as a chef was his true calling. Upon arriving in Louisville in 1982, Chef Corbett had the opportunity to work with Grisanti, Inc. He excelled thru the ranks of the flagship four-star restaurant, Casa Grisanti, a Northern Italian gem, and later assumed the sous chef position at Sixth Avenue which served progressive American cuisine. It was with Grisanti that Chef Corbett was able to participate with the Taste of America: A celebration of the top 50 restaurants for President Reagan's inauguration in 1984. He also participated in the Bourbon Bicentennial at the renowned Explorer's Club in New York.

In 1985, Chef Corbett had the opportunity to purchase a foundering, suburban restaurant named Equus, which is Latin for horse. Over the last 20 years, Corbett has built a reputation of culinary excellence in Louisville's fine dining scene including a four-star rating in the Louisville newspaper, the Courier-Journal where reviewer Susan Reigler proclaims Equus "not just one of the city's best restaurants, it is absolutely one of the best.” Equus accolades include publication in Food Arts, Restaurants and Institutions, Southern Living, Wine Spectator, Spirit, Sky, Chef and many others.  In 2006, Equus received the DiRoNA Award which recognizes distinguished dining establishments.

Chef Corbett is one of the first in Kentucky to implement a regular degustation menu, complete with wine pairings, magnificent sauces and beautiful pastries and desserts. In 2000, Chef Corbett opened Jack's Lounge named after his late father and former business partner. Jack's has garnished rave reviews ever since its opening and has been featured in national publications as well as receiving a “Best of Louisville” award three years in a row.

Equus has a long history of giving back to the community, including implementation of the first Juvenile Diabetes and Autism Dinner fundraisers in Louisville as well as involvement in countless other benefits such as March of Dimes, Kosair Charities, Multiple Sclerosis, and the American Heart Association.  Chef Corbett is also heavily involved in efforts to support any and all local and regional farmers and purveyors.

Chef Corbett's newest and greatest challenge opened in December of 2007. Corbett’s "an American place"  serves new American cuisine with an award-winning wine list, located in a beautifully restored farmhouse in the northeast part of Louisville known as Old Brownsboro Crossing. The level of culinary and beverage excellence has been raised to new heights with Corbett's and Chef Corbett hopes to garner national acclaim. Features such as a chef's interactive tasting room and a unique 150 year old solid limestone "wineskeller" have been incorporated into this project making it truly unique to Louisville and this region.

Life outside the restaurant involves a line of gourmet products including seven sauces and three soups featured in many Louisville retail stores. Chef Corbett also hosts a weekly cooking show, "The Secrets of Louisville Chefs Live." The live cooking show is wildly popular and continues to rise in weekly television ratings.  People have come from many surrounding states to be part of the studio audience of the show and witness Corbett's cooking expertise and engaging humor. 

Dean enjoys spending time with his wife, Julie, their young son, Jack and new baby, Max. In addition to his wife and sons, Chef Corbett shares his home with two Golden Retrievers and two cats. Other hobbies include biking on his customized chef Harley, conducting cooking classes and hanging out with neighbors and friends.