KUDOS March 2020

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An Amazing Journey RESTAURATEUR RUSS BENDEL IS ON FIRE IN THE RESTAURANT WORLD Executive Chef Partner Jared Cook Russ Bendel, owner of RJB Restaurant Group Partners and their wives and girlfriends at the 2019 Golden Foodie Awards; from left, Partner Gabe Whorley and his girlfriend Jourdan Zuccolotto, Kacie and Jared Cook (Executive Chef Partner), Kyanna and Kevin Franke (Partner), Owner Russ Bendel and his wife Sarah Bendel, Partner Kyle Simpson, Jennifer and Patrick Fanning (Partner), Olea Assistant GM Stephanie Sandoval and Jared Sandoval Russ Bendel with his family, wife Sarah, 2 1/2-year-old daughter Brooklyn and four-month-old son Russell Michael Article Donna Bunce 24 KUDOS Newport Beach | March 2020
“I’M FORTUNATE TO BE ABLE TO ENJOY WHAT I DO, I HAVE GREAT BUSINESS PARTNERS, WHO ARE ALSO GREAT FRIENDS.” - RUSS BENDEL, OWNER OF RJB RESTAURANT GROUP. Vine Restaurant & Bar, San Clemente Russell Joseph Bendel was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the son of Russell William and Judy Bendel, who introduced him to the restaurant world. In the early 1970s, his parents had met while working at Dummy’s Delightful Saloonery, Russell as GM and Judy as assistant manager. Later married, Judy stopped working after Jeannie was born in 1980 and Russell Joseph in 1981, and when her husband was offered a job in 1990 as COO for El Torito on the West Coast, the family moved to Mission Viejo. “I really grew up in the business,” Russ says. “I remember being able to go in restaurants at a young age and see what was going on behind the scenes, After we moved and Dad was opening new restaurants for El Torito, and later for Outback Steakhouse, I got to see restaurants being built from the ground up.” By his high school years, Russ was working as a dishwasher and bus boy at Outback. “That’s when I knew I was going to be in the restaurant business,” he says. By the time he earned his Bachelor of Science degree with an emphasis on Restaurant and Business Management from The Collins College at Cal Poly Pomona in 2005, he was a manager at Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar in Newport Beach. Quickly moving up the ranks, he was promoted to partner at age 25, making him the youngest in company history, after which he earned his Court of Master Sommeliers Certification. In 2012, he was included in OC Metro’s prestigious 40 Under 40 Annual Issue. Vine's Pinot Noir Braised Short Rib After being named Fleming’s Partner of the Year in 2010, 2011 and 2012, Russ left to pursue his own venture in February, 2013, with longtime friends and family. He acquired the 90-seat Vine Restaurant & Bar in San Clemente in 2013, which launched with Russ and Kyle Simpson as Operating Partners, Gabe Whorley as the bartender and Partner and Jared Cook, the former chef at Vine, as Chef Partner. This is where they began to build the foundation of their future. “Our vision was to always have the highest quality ingredients to create unique dishes at a fantastic value,” Russ says. “Jared spearheaded the food, and early on, I was in charge of the wines, while Gabe focused on craft beverages and Kyle managed the service team.” Russ says they liked it because it was a neighborhood restaurant. They decided to keep the name and the staff, making small improvements where needed, and ended up doubling revenue the first year and being named one of OC Register’s Top 10 Restaurants in Orange County. Even though the menu changes four times a year, signature dishes remain: Article Crispy Andrea Meyer Poe Lemon & Honey Duck Wings, Crispy Jidori Chicken Schnitzel with Maitake Mushrooms, House Made Sugar Pumpkin Ravioli, Mexicali Burger, and Zinfandel Braised Napa Lamb Shank.
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KUDOS March 2020

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