BATON ROUGE mdash; With the restaurantrsquo;s last day of business slated for early October, Fork N Spoon has begun winding down its operations.The restaurant, open just over five years, is minimizing its inventory and invoices as it proceeds into September, Fork N Spoonrsquo;s owner Kris Ashbire w rote on social media.Steak and fresh-squeezed orange juice are among the first items on the menu to be discontinued. Braised beef and fresh-squeezed lemonades will remain as substitutes for now, but other changes to the menu may be made as operations continue to wind down.ldquo;We appreciate your understanding as we navigate this situation,rdquo; Ashbire said.Ashbire first announced the restaurantrsquo;s planned closure in late August, writing online that the decision was made after months of thoughtful deliberation.ldquo;It was not one singular event, but rather a culmination of realizations that ultimately led to this decision,rdquo; Ashbire said at the time. ldquo;I wish operating Fork was as carefree as cooking for people I love every day, but it simply is not. Owning a business is intense, and it requires a level of self-sacrifice that is difficult to maintain at this point in my life. What originally started as a passion for food has grown into a passion for leadership, connection, and building something meaningful, and I'm eager to explore those parts of myself.rdquo;The restaurant on Brightside Drive was one of the local eateries visited by viral TikToker food critic Keith Lee during his 2024 visit to Baton Rouge.nbsp;Fork N Spoonrsquo;s last day of business is currently Oct. 3.nbsp;Permalink| Comments ...read more read less