Austin Restaurant Community Mourns Passing of Yoli and Michael Amr

Stunning and devastating news from Round Rock this morning. Two of my favorite people in the Austin restaurant community, Yoli and Michael Amr, the founders of the original Gumbo’s and current owners of Mama Roux on Parmer Lane were found dead in their Round Rock home. Early indications point to a murder suicide.

Yoli, a former nurse and all-around nice lady had the perfect front-of-the-house personality. She was bubbly, effervescent and filled with a seemingly boundless energy. She was diminutive in stature but made up for it with her huge personality. Michael was a brilliant chef and was content to stay in the kitchen, doing what he did best. He was the perfect back-of-the-house technician. Together, they made magic whenever they opened a restaurant. Yet the restaurant unexpectedly closed on Monday with no reason given to customers. Employees suggested that the relationship between the two seemed strained lately. But this is just conjecture.

I have no real sense of what could have precipitated this horrific tragedy; only a pervasive sense of loss with respect to two abundantly talented and nice people. Mama Roux has served up its last order of étouffée and I for one am deeply saddened. This is indeed the end of an era.