No More Nicole Rucker at Gjusta in Venice?

Rumor has it that talented pastry chef Nicole Rucker is no longer involved at Gjusta, Venice’s take-no-prisoners bakery/cafe. Was it all the milk crates that did her in?

Seriously though: if true, this would be a huge loss for the fledgeling Venice hangout, and a major shakeup to the Gjelina group as a whole. A blue-ribbon pie winner at the National Pie Championship and a pastry chef of the highest order, Rucker has been instrumental in making Gjusta as popular as it is. And all this on the heels of a sweepingly positive review by Jonathan Gold a few weeks ago.

In asking Gjelina about the news, the restaurant group offered a terse "no comment." Got details? Share them publicly below or hit the tip line for some anonymity.