Pastry Chef Kyle McKinney is OUT at Barley Swine

Distinctively coiffed pastry chef Kyle McKinney has officially moved on from Barley Swine. Zagat Austin tweeted the news earlier today, and a rep for Barley Swine confirms. "He's taking some time off to travel a bit and then looking at some new projects for himself."

McKinney joined Barley Swine in March of 2011, and his inventive desserts mixing sweet and savory elements earned rave reviews, including a nod from Food & Wine last year. Barley Swine has no plans to hire a new pastry chef; the restaurant's rep calls the pastry program "a collaboration amongst the whole team."

Update! A rep for the restaurant has passed along Bryce Gilmore's official statement: "Kyle McKinney is no longer working at Barley Swine as our pastry chef. We are thankful for his contributions through the years and wish him nothing but the best moving forward. Barley Swine's pastry program is continuing to live up to the precedent standards set forth by the entire team."
· Zagat [Twitter]
· All Kyle McKinney Coverage [EATX]
· All Barley Swine Coverage [EATX]