Jim Myers

USA TODAY NETWORK – Tennessee

The sound of weeping avocados you hear comes this morning as news spreads of the departure of the chef and founder of Avo, one of the newest veggie-centric restaurants to come along last year.

Jessica Rice announced she is leaving Nashville's raw, plant-based restaurant she opened with partner Susannah Herring, the owner of Hot Yoga Plus in June 2015. With a savvy social media push hawking their avocado margaritas, which were infinitely better tasting than they sounded, along with healthy lifestyle menus and classes, the restaurant gained a small toe-hold beyond the strict vegetarian community.

This comes on heels of another chef-co-owner split when Tony and Caroline Galzin left partner Christy Thurman and Fifty First Kitchen.

What is going on here people?

The Avo concept was built around Rice's own philosophy, a brand that she says was, "Literally my lifestyle, my education, personal interests and certifications as a holistic coach."

Raw food restaurant Avo to open in Nashville this fall

AVO: A raw food wonder

"I was already doing it around town at other locations like the Wild Cow. This [parting] is not what I wanted to happen. My dad and I built the living walls in that space," continues Rice.

As for the future of Avo, Rice says she has no idea what their plans are. She did mention that Herring had brought in a consultant from Kooky Canuck, a small, Canadian-inspired restaurant chain out of Memphis that touts their jumbo burgers. You can call me kooky, but that sounds just a wee bit incongruous for a restaurant already built around a plant-based, raw and locally-sourced philosophy.

Owner Herring was not available for comment when called this morning.

For fans of Rice's food, she will be doing a pop-up dinner at The Treehouse on Monday, Feb. 29 with two seatings between 6 and 10 p.m. for $40 per person. It's fitting that it comes on leap day, as Rice looks for a new space and opportunity to continue her 100 percent raw, gluten-free and plant-based approach. Stay tuned.

Reach Jim Myers at 615-259-8367 and on Twitter @ReadJimMyers.