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Today's restaurant world is abuzz with the latest opening, the hottest bar scene, the trendiest ingredient. Despite all the hype, success in the restaurant business is a rare thing. Longevity is even rarer. And long term, successful partnerships? Almost unheard of. But for more than 20 years, Janet and Kevin Meeker have made it work.

Their first venture was Los Amigos, which introduced formal Mexican food to the Delaware Valley. Janet and Kevin opened the first Los Amigos in 1976 in Berlin, NJ. At the time, salsas, chiles, and tortillas had yet to become part of the American palate. But Los Amigos took off, and by 1981, Janet and Kevin had opened Los Amigos restaurants in Atlantic City and Philadelphia, and two Santa Fe Bar and Grill locations in Delaware. Then they were ready for another challenge.

That Janet and Kevin turned their attention to seafood was no accident. Janet was born in Connecticut and raised on New England seafood. She and Kevin met at the University of Maine. Janet was getting her masters in social work - lessons which have come in handy in the restaurant business - and Kevin was studying architecture. But Kevin had already been bitten by the restaurant bug. A native of Cherry Hill, NJ, Kevin had traveled the world, cooking and tasting his way through the Caribbean, South America, North Africa, and Hawaii. He developed a love for seafood prepared with ethnic ingredients.

So when Janet and Kevin looked for another culinary challenge, seafood was a natural fit. They opened Philadelphia Fish & Company in 1983 and set out to introduce the Delaware Valley to fresh, high quality, unique seafood.

Mako shark? Mesquite grilling? Ahi tuna served rare? These were all new to Philadelphia. But customers loved the clean, true flavors of Philadelphia Fish & Company's food. Dishes were cooked with fresh herbs, olive oil, and compound butter, and the fish was grilled or seared, not fried or baked. The restaurant was a hit, and the Meekers became known as adventurous trendsetters.

While the Meekers' passion for food takes them around the world, they are very committed to Philadelphia, its restaurant community, and a myriad of charitable organizations. Janet sits on the Board of Directors of the Greater Philadelphia Restaurant and Purveyors Association. Kevin is a founding member of the Old City Restaurant Association, and he is a member of the Board of Directors of the Philadelphia Art Institute's Culinary Institute. Every year, the Meekers donate their time and effort to a vast array of charitable organizations from (program with school children) to the annual trek to Hawaii to cook at a benefit for The Big Brother/Big Sister Association.

In the spring of 2005, Kevin and Janet opened Cork Restaurant and Bar, 90 Haddon Ave, Westmont N.J. The restaurant features a progressive American menu, a gently priced wine list and fifteen beers on draft. Live Jazz on Fridays. To visit Cork, click here.