Chef Kurt Fleischfresser to leave Vast

Culinary Big Kahuna to make The Tasting Room point of operation

Chef Kurt Fleischfresser confirmed he is leaving Vast after eight and a half years as vice president of culinary operations. He informed the staff at Vast late last week that March 2 will be his final day.

Coury Hospitality, which manages Vast, has announced no plans to replace Fleischfresser. Chef Paul Langer will continue as executive chef.

Oklahoma City’’s culinary Big Kahuna said he will continue and enrich his partnership with Carl Milam’s Western Concepts restaurant group. Fleischfresser and Milam first partnered in 2008 when Western Concepts brought The Coach House under its umbrella and employed Fleischfresser as culinary consultant for all its properties, which includes Sushi Neko, Musashi’s, The Lobby Bar, Will Rogers Theatre, and The Tasting Room.

Fleischfresser came to Vast in 2014. The restaurant opened in 2012 under the direction of chef Andrew Black, who now operates The Grey Sweater and Black Walnut. Since taking over Vast, Fleischfresser said the restaurant has reached all the goals Coury set out for it, including attaining 4-diamond status from AAA.

Fleischfresser first had Patrick Williams as his executive chef. When Williams moved to Flint, Fleischfresser tapped chef Kevin Lee. Langer followed Lee along with co-executive chef Chad Epley, who died after he was struck by a car riding his bicycle home from work in 2019.

Fleischfresser said he plans to spend the majority of his time going forward at The Tasting Room, where he will bolster his roster of cooking classes and special events and pop-ups.

When those occasions arise, you’ll find details here. Look for some video from the Big Kahuna’s adventures to emerge on a YouTube channel he’s got in the works.