Gather in Eastern Market Temporarily Shutters Following Staff Shakeup

Gather in Eastern Market has temporarily shuttered following the departure of the restaurant’s head chef Nate Vogeli. Co-owners Kyle and Lea Hunt have hired chef Jessie Patuano to replace Vogeli and plan reopen soon once menu and staffing details are finalized.

The small, 34-seat restaurant located at 1454 Gratiot Ave. debuted in May with a focus on market-sourced ingredients cooked over a wood fired grill. Vogeli had been influential in helping develop the identity of the restaurant in the lead-up to the opening through various pop-ups, but was not a full partner in the eatery.

Kyle Hunt tells Eater that Vogeli officially left the restaurant during the first week in September. “It was an amicable split,” he says. “We were going different directions so we agreed to separate but it was abrupt.”

While menu details are still being worked out, Patuano is expected to bring a similarly local approach to cooking at Gather with dishes that highlight seasonal vegetables.

Throughout her career, Patuano has worked at some of metro Detroit’s most prominent restaurants. The Long Island-born chef studied at School Craft College and worked at The Root Restaurant and Bar with chef James Rigato before being hired on at Torino in Ferndale. After the popular tasting menu restaurant shuttered in 2015, she moved on to work at Bacco Ristorante in Southfield and eventually at Chartreuse Kitchen & Cocktails. Most recently, Kyle says, Patuano was working as a private chef. “Jessie is absolutely amazing and we’re really excited for everybody to try her food,” he says.

Gather is currently seeking several line cooks and prep cooks to fill out their team and applicants are encouraged to send resumes to hello@gatherdetroit.com. Once those hires are made, then the restaurant will reopen with slightly different hours. Brunch will not be offered initially during the transition. Stay tuned for more updates on the relaunch.

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