Gertie and the Giant Octopus

Octopus: it was Robert's mother Margaret “Snooky” DeLaura who gave Robert this nickname for his odd, quirky childhood behavior. While working the sauté station during a busy dinner service in a restaurant kitchen, a co-worker said he was like an “octopus” and the moniker has stuck ever since. So it was a natural thing for him to use that nickname within a restaurant to call his own.

While researching the history of the Puget Sound and Gig Harbor, WA, the location of the restaurant,
Robert stumbled across an article about the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, nicknamed “Galloping Gertie” and the legend of the giant octopus that lives under it's ruins.

Gertie and the Giant Octopus is born of inspiration, failures, and the price paid for human progress, guided by a spirit of generosity and a passion for life, good food, good wine and good friends. Trying new things, sharing and, above all, enjoyment: this is why we do what we do.

On a menu that changes with the seasons, the dishes are rooted in Mediterranean cuisine, but transformed through inspirations from the Pacific NW.

Robert enjoys working with all kinds of ingredients, from the simplest to the noblest, but always strives for authentic, original culinary creations graced with a simple approach.

Robert chooses his products with great care – each ingredient is carefully selected and sampled. With his suppliers, he maintains relationships founded on partnership and trust: everyone shares the same passion for quality and authenticity.

Originally from Detroit, Michigan Robert moved to Portland, Oregon in 2004 to spread his wings as a professional cook. Robert met his wife Meghan who was from Seattle, WA and relocated north in 2012.
Robert has 2 step daughters, Kathryn and Ashley. 3 Pekingese, Bella, Daisy and Bosko. 1 cat named Noodle, but they call him baby kittie....