About Corvino | Corvino

Chef / Owner

Michael Corvino

Raised in Walla Walla, Washington, Chef Michael Corvino was immersed in the seasonal living of the beautiful Northwest. His first delve into the culinary world was when he was a teenager; first at a pizza place, then onto the Marcus Whitman Hotel. He quickly moved to Chicago where he became the chef de cuisine of The Peninsula Hotel. Following tours included the Ritz-Carlton Naples; opening the culinary operations of The Nines hotel in Portland, including two restaurants Urban Farmer and Departure; executive sous chef at The Mansion on Turtle Creek in Dallas; and executive chef and general manager of The American Restaurant in Kansas City. He began working on Corvino in 2016 and opened in April 2017. When not in his kitchen, Chef Corvino prefers to spend time outdoors with family and friends. Many mornings are spent on his trail bike. He also enjoys taking part in nonprofit fundraising dinners locally and across the country where he finds the opportunity to serve communities and collaborate with other chefs. He loves to travel home and abroad, exploring local markets and restaurants to inspire and challenge his own creativity.

Owner / Sommelier

Christina Corvino

Christina Corvino lives a winding life of curiosity. Originally from Scottsdale, Arizona, her background includes nonprofit and for-profit fundraising, producing large entertainment events, developing marketing campaigns, leading humanitarian teams to West Africa, and she started out her professional life as a US Air Force officer. This compilation perfectly prepared her for the multi-roles of a restauranteur. You'll find her hands in hospitality training, PR and marketing, the music program, all the little details, and of course working the floor of the dining room. As our Wine Director she curates our wine lists, and educates the staff. Christina is a Certified Sommelier, a 2019 James Beard Foundation Women's Entrepreneurial Leadership Fellow, a 2022 Goldman Sachs 10K Small Business Cohort, and Kansas City Business Journal named her a 2022 Women Who Mean Business awardee. Christina's favorite days have family, friends, dogs, horses, sunshine, cheese, and a glass of something sparkly.

General Manager

James Sams

Born and raised in Kansas City, James obtained his Business Management degree from Kansas State, and is a proud Wildcat. In his hospitality career, he has done everything from bartending to managing events, and enjoys the problem solving and communication skills that are required daily in his position. James began with us in 2020, and his talents and ethics rose him through positions to now leading our front-of-house, and working with the Corvinos on business growth. In his spare time, he loves to spend it outdoors with his wife and two children, especially visiting National Parks; as well as golfing every chance he gets.

Executive Sous Chef

Jennifer D'Amico

Jennifer is one of the most tenured chefs at Corvino. She joined the team one month after opening in May 2017, but began working with Chef Michael Corvino at The American in 2014. Jen says, "Being able to create dishes that make you reminisce about your childhood, fulfill a craving, or simply make you smile is what I find most rewarding when cooking." Her passion in cooking started in high school attending Broadmoor Technical Center. She was soon recognized as a natural talent by her teacher and mentor, though she did not immediately see it in herself. He was able to help hone her abilities and lead her on the right path to start a successful career. Initially, she saw it as an opportunity to change the scenery from her usual classroom setting, but her teacher encouraged her to hone her natural talent. She is inspired by regional cuisine and finds joy in exploring and creating authentic dishes. Asian-American fusion is a particular favorite that started while working with Chef Michael. But at her core, she’s a born and raised Kansas Citian who loves comfort food, which is why the Corvino burger will always be her favorite item on the menu.

Pastry Chef

Tia Throckmorton

*bio coming soon*

Assistant General Manager

Genny Scott

Genny Scott, our Assistant General Manager, joined us in September 2021 as the Private Events Manager. She grew up in Kansas City and is the youngest of seven children. Genny has worked in restaurants since the age of 14. Outside of the restaurant life, she can be found traveling coast to coast and working on her home, and hosting epic annual parties. She loves to cook anything Italian and relaxes with a whiskey cocktail surrounded by friends, family, and her dog. Genny is a go-getter and believes that "life isn't going to hand you anything. You have to work for it." Her favorite Corvino plate is the shrimp fried rice.

AboutCorvino

About
Corvino