We have been blessed at Rue Cler with a first-rate staff, most of whom helped us open our doors for the first time in 2006.

The owners, John Vandergrift and Chris Stinnett, who also own Pop’s Restaurant in the Brightleaf Square/Peabody Place district, direct a crew of 10 chefs, cooks, and dishwashers, and 9 waitstaff.

Chef/Owner Chris Stinnett is a veteran of Durham’s dining scene, who has also worked on the island of Truc.  What free time he has is spent with his growing family, golfing, and booing the Tar Heels.

Chef/Owner John Vandergrift has cooked in France, Montana, and Colorado.  He ended up settling in Durham, is catching up to Chris in the baby department, and loves it when Duke loses.

General Manager Campbell Davis has been in the Triangle’s dining and catering scene for over a decade.  When he’s not on the job as the point-man for Rue Cler, he’s probably at a rock and roll show, SCUBA diving,  or fixing up his house.

Master Baker Kevin Farmer is the heart of our wholesale and retail breadmaking operation, and also happens to be the chair of the Durham Democratic Party.  His bread really is awesome.

We welcome our new head chef Aaron Benjamin, a veteran of many of Durham’s finest kitchens, to our family at Rue Cler.  John dragged Aaron into North Carolina years ago, and now Aaron is happy to spend his days composting, gardening, and feeding Durham’s hungry masses.   His attention to detail will be a very welcome addition to Rue Cler’s cuisine, and we are excited to welcome a former employee back into our tribe.

Filling out our ranks, our servers, cooks, and plongeurs are all dedicated to bringing our uniquely affordable and simply delicious cuisine to your (hand-made, recovered wood) table.

We look forward to serving you soon.  It’s joie de vivre, y’all.