Teresa Gubbins reports the closing of Restaurant Ava, the charming restaurant in Rockwall where you could find a mean plate of shrimp and grits and a smile on the face of Chef Randall Copeland. Copeland died early Tuesday morning.
Copeland’s sudden death, at 39, shocked the Dallas restaurant community. He touched the lives of many chefs, restaurateurs, customers, farmers, and vendors. His Facebook page is covered posts of fond memories and pictures.
No official announcement has been made on the cause of death, but several of Copeland’s friends say he suffered from sleep apnea. Details for the celebration of Copeland’s life are pending. I know that many restaurants are working together to put on a special event.
