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 Christina and their family and friends. Many mornings are spent on his trail bike with their dog, Clover. 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 / GM / 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 General Manager. You'll find her hands in hospitality training, PR and marketing, the music program, all the little details, and of course on the floor of the dining room almost every night. As our Wine Director she coordinates the Raven's Nest Winemaker Dinner Series, as well as curates our wine lists, selects pairings for the Tasting Room, 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. 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.

Assistant General Manager

James Sams

James Sams is our Assistant General Manager. Born and raised in Kansas City, he obtained his Business Management degree from Kansas State, and is a proud Wildcat. Professionally, he has done everything from bartending to managing events, and enjoys the problem solving and communication skills that are required daily in his current position. 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.

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. She loves to make fresh pasta for her daughter and tomato sauces that take eight hours to stew. 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.

Sous Chef

Thomas Luna

Thomas Luna, a Corvino sous chef, started with the team in July 2019. As a Kansas City native, Thomas grew up on the Westside in a multi-generational household, enjoying family dinners often. This gathering of people to commune over food is still influential in his approach to cooking. He describes his position in the kitchen at Corvino, “it’s very creative, which is of utmost importance in my career.” Thomas is an artist. He attended KCAI and paints, photographs, and creates in a studio on the Westside. Outside the supper club, he loves cooking on a cast-iron skillet and a campfire. His favorite Corvino plate is the Uni Toast.

Sous Chef

Jernan Herman

Food was a big part of Nan's family life growing up, as it is in many Filipino homes. He grew up in Gladstone, a suburb outside of Kansas City. While studying Hospitality Management at The University of Missouri, he interned at Little Nell, a hotel in Aspen. He moved through kitchen roles until becoming a Sous Chef. This led to a position at Monarch in Aspen, where he became the Chef de Cuisine. Nan has a very laid-back demeanor. The greats, like Anthony Bourdain, Andy Ricker, and Louis Tikaram, inspire Nan, but he's the biggest fan of his son, Ronin. Nan says his cooking is "very Asian influenced combined with my experience in French cuisine." His guilty pleasure meal is fried spam and rice. You can find him rock climbing or playing the harmonica when he's not in the kitchen. Nan's favorite Corvino plate is our pork ribs.

Assistant Manager

Erin Taylor

Erin Taylor joined Corvino as a Server in May of 2018 and quickly learned the roles of Tasting Room Service and Bartending. Today, she's our assistant manager. She's a reliable source of positivity in the restaurant. She's currently finetuning our training program and working towards her Level II Sommelier certification. Erin believes that "every time you sit down at a table, it should be a celebration." She loves how a table brings people together and feels empowered by how she can positively impact those who choose to dine at Corvino. She focuses on having empathy at the forefront of everything she does. Her favorite Corvino plate is our classic, the seaweed donuts.

Lead Bartender

Hannah Jones

Hannah Jones started at Corvino in 2018. Today, she's our Lead Bartender and an instrumental member of the front-of-house staff. She says, "I've always enjoyed using my hands and talking with people. In school, I always got in trouble for talking too much." Hannah finds inspiration in whole ingredients, which she attributes to her mom, who cooked with fresh ingredients at home over family meals when she was growing up. Today, her principles behind the bar include using products completely, and education. She's made vinegar from lemon rinds for cocktails and is studying for her Level II Sommelier certification. She's proud to lead a bar program that local bartenders patron. Outside the restaurant, she enjoys weight training in the gym and gets inspiration from other tasting menus. Hannah's favorite Corvino plate is "the tasting room chocolate dessert. With the pastry cream over the top, it's very rich, very delicious."

Private Dining Manager

Genny Scott

Genny Scott, our Private Events Manager, joined us in September 2021. 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 developing her new home in KCK. She's excited about unlocking the potential of Corvino Supper Club & Tasting Room. Specifically, the prospect of full buyouts that elevate the space into a full-service venue. Genny says it's a natural transition, "the Corvinos already know how to throw a party." 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.

Administrator

Jacob Russell

Jacob Russell, our Administrator, started with us in October 2018 as a host. He loves the sense of community at Corvino. Jacob trained at culinary school in New York but realized his calling in hospitality was in the front of the house. His parents raised him to show kindness and respect to everyone, which is intrinsic to his work. He enjoys the theme events that Corvino hosts. The events embody the lightness of one of Jacob's mantras, "don't take anything too seriously." Jacob is in the Kansas City drag scene as Sarah Tonin. The staff regularly turns out to watch him perform at venues around town. He likes to unwind with a glass of white wine while listening to Florence + The Machine. His favorite Corvino plate is the classic seaweed donuts.

AboutCorvino

About
Corvino