Chef Brandon Crouser (pictured) has left the renovated and reopened Vine Expressions wine bar and retail shop in Gilbert after two months, saying simply, “It wasn’t a good fit for me.”
Sous chef John Ribeiro, who also worked under Crouser at Avalon in Scottsdale, takes over the tiny, limited kitchen. He recently learned the restaurant is not allowed to use its tabletop fryer and burner, leaving only an oven.
“The new menu is a work in progress,” he says, adding the focus now is on simpler fare – cheese, olives and bruschetta – with just a few entrees. He hopes to introduce a scaled-down menu next week.
Meanwhile, Crouser says he and chef Cullen Campbell finally have found a new location for their temporarily homeless Crudo restaurant and, if all goes well, hopes to be working on it next month.
In the meantime, Crouser is lending a hand at his old restaurant, Atlas Bistro in Scottsdale, this weekend, as well as Pittsburgh Willy’s in Chandler.
