Chef Cassy Vires takes the reins from Josh Charles at Winslow’s Home

By Matt Sorrell // July 25, 2018


Josh Charles, who took over as executive chef at Winslow’s Home in April, has left the restaurant and has returned to working on his own brand. His last day of service was Saturday, July 20.

“Whenever I took on the restaurant job [at Winslow’s] it was all-consuming, so I couldn’t do anything else, and that’s what I was really hoping not to have happen,” Charles said. “I’m going to be going back to the private chef model essentially. I’m looking to lease a kitchen space one or two days a week. Before I had to drive to each customer’s home and work there, so I want to cook in one central location. I think that will make it a lot easier on everyone.”

Charles said he’ll also continue to put out culinary tutorials online. “I’m super excited about it,” he said. “If I can just teach one person a trick when I put one of those out, I’m happy about it.”

Replacing Charles in the Winslow’s kitchen is Cassy Vires, who most recently served as chef at Claverach Farm. She’ll be taking the helm later this week.

In addition to returning to the daily restaurant world, the move marks Vires’ return to working on the regular with her husband Josh Renbarger, who is Winslow’s general manager. Together, Vires and Renbarger formerly owned Home Wine Kitchen in Maplewood and Table in Benton Park, both of which closed in 2014.

“I have an outline in my head of what I’d like to do,” Vires said. “It’s a unique situation given my personal connection with the place,” she added with a laugh.

Vires said she intends to honor Winslow’s true farm-to-table roots while keeping the menu current and incorporating plenty of “fun and whimsical” touches.

“Not too many restaurants can say they own a farm,” Vires said. “The farm hasn’t been featured as much recently, so it’s going to be a central focus [of the menu].” She said she’s also excited to begin working with the Winslow’s staff. “They’re hungry to do a lot of creative things,” she said.

Matt Sorrell is staff writer for Sauce Magazine.