We start the week with hard news to swallow
But chef Bruce Rinehart and his family are determined to meet a health challenge with optimism and support
Chef Bruce Rinehart was born in Connecticut and raised coast-to-coast before making Oklahoma his home 21 years ago and opening Rococo. He was single when he arrived, having worked for the Hotel del Coronado in San Diego and Legal Seafood in Boston before opening his own place and then working for a casino.
He brought his East-Coast sensibility to the Heartland and the Heartland stole his heart via his bride Amber. With oldest son, Will, graduating from Deer Creek High School next month and the younger, Brak, just a couple years behind and looking at the Air Force Academy, the Rinehart’s have quietly been investing in the folks who make Rococo run. The original location on Penn is now aVenue, a catering and event space they’ve included employees in ownership. Bruce and Amber are working on doing the same with Rococo on Western.
Don’t get it twisted. They’re not retiring, but they are trying to gain some slack on the leash that is life in the food-service industry.
The only roads that lead to happily ever after are bumpy, and the Rinehart’s have hit one of those patches. Last week, Bruce got some jarring news: He’s been diagnosed with bladder cancer. Of course, there’s no such thing as a good cancer diagnosis, but if there is any good news it’s that the doctor told him if there was such a thing as stage-zero cancer, this would be it.
“We caught it really early,” Bruce said over lunch on the patio at Rococo on Friday. “That’s a blessing.”
Bruce and the family will begin a yearlong journey for his condition, starting immediately with six weeks of treatment. After once-a-week treatments for the better part of two months, he’ll take a three-month break before assessing and continuing. This time next year, the hope is this cancer will be sent into remission.
Amber made it clear the whole family is concerned but upbeat and determined to keep Bruce’s attack on this cancer positive. They will be accepting prayers, hugs, well-wishes, positive mo-jo and high-fives exclusively until the goal is reached.
The show will absolutely go on at Rococo. Starting next week, Bruce will miss some time on the dining room floor, but he intends to be there when he can. Amber is beyond confident in Team Rococo. She believes in chef Jason Bustamante, who has been with Bruce for almost three decades, and general manager Bennie Williams to steady the helm.
She said Sterling Bartlowe, Ivan Pena, Yousef Martinez and David Sullivan are more than capable of keeping Rococo’s love in the air, and over at Rococo Catering and aVenue iMacaiah Johanes, Zach Rupple, Jeremy Massengil steer a quality team.
Bruce will be around, playing in the kitchen and out on the floor. Per Amber, “Come by and say ‘Hi’; he’d love to give you a hug.”
This would be a time to raise prayers, toasts, and/or well-wishes to the Rinehart family. …
More hugs to share
While we’re passing out prayers, add some condolences to those for the Bonadio family, who recently said goodbye to its matriarch. Constance Bonadio, who passed away April 6, was a pillar to one of Oklahoma City’s oldest and most storied Italian restaurants.
Her husband Bill Sr. and son Bill Jr. opened Bonadio’s Italian Kitchen, and Dio’s Original Fried Pizza before settling on Papa Dio’s Italian Restaurant. After Bill Sr. passed away in 1997, Bill Jr. ran Papa Dio’s through 2019. That’s when his sister, and current Papa Dio’s owner, Candace Gideo took over the family business.
All along, Constance was there. She could often be found in the kitchen cooking, seating guests, or serving food. She was born April 21, 1933, in Danbury, Connecticut. That’s where she married William Bonadio Sr. In 1955. They moved to Oklahoma City in 1970 and began opening restaurants. Bill Sr. died in 1997, but Constance was fortunate enough to find love again. She married Everett Schierenbeck in 2010. Constance was preceded in death by her parents Harry and Lillian Brazarian, first husband William Bonadio Sr., second husband Everett Schierenbeck, grandson Michael Bonadio, and three siblings Joann Welch, Mildred Tilford, and Charles Bazarian.
She is survived by her four children William Bonadio Jr, Thomas Bonadio, Candace Gideo, and Stacy M. Deason.
Ma Der Comes Through with BBQ
Tonight Cowboys and Laoboys return to the Plaza District. Chef Jeff Chanchaleune welcomes Edge Craft owner/pitmaster Zach Edge back into his Ma Der Lao kitchen for a clash between Texas Hill Country-style barbecue and cutting edge Lao cuisine. Smoked Sai Oua sausage, chopped brisket laab, Char Siu Pork Belly, and Beef Cheek Pastrami Melt have my attention. Here’s the full menu:
Speaking of Chanchaleune, I can now confirm the three-time James Beard Award nominee and current Best Chef Southwest finalist will join me for a panel discussion this Saturday afternoon at Big Bite 2024 in Tulsa. Culinary Crossroads: A Conversation about Oklahoma’s culinary identity will begin at 2:30 p.m. and conclude about 3:15 p.m. If you’re at Big Bite you won’t want to miss it. Wait? You’re not sure what Big Bite 2024 is? See below:
A reminder, the Okie-style Cinco de Mayo fiesta I’m collaborating on with chef Kurt Fleischfresser and tickets are now live. …
Back Wednesday with more local dining news and the skinny and who is packing heat among local pupusa-makers.