Where the Chefs Go: MICHAEL CORVINO

By Jenny Vergara

Named America’s next great culinary destination by Saveur magazine, Kansas City is a food destination on the rise. But where do locals like to eat? We asked local chefs to dish on their favorite places to eat out.

Michael Corvino made his mark on the Kansas City culinary scene when he took the reigns as both the Executive Chef and General Manager for The American. Now with Crown Center’s iconic fine-dining restaurant reimagining its concept, Michael and his wife and business partner, Cristina, have announced plans to open their own place. Corvino Supper Club & Tasting Room will open in late 2017 in the newly redeveloped Corrigan Station Building in the Crossroads Arts District. The 90 seat dining room will feature modern shared plates for social dining and a separate tasting room with 18 seats that will allow Michael and his culinary team to focus on a more intimate experience serving seasonal, contemporary, American fine dining dishes. Both will be open for dinner only.


Favorite Brunch

“Their Sunday brunch is like church for me,” says Michael, where he orders classic Mexican breakfast dishes like chilaquiles, sopa, a Mexican breakfast sandwich, and the vegetarian queso fondido, usually with a shot of Del Maguey’s premium “pechuga” mescal or a Tecate to drink. l 4141 Pennsylvania in Westport

Favorite Place for Breakfast

Michael and his girlfriend Christina enjoy breakfast at Happy Gillis during the work week. “We usually take our laptops and get some work done as we eat,” says Michael. They go for biscuits and Local Pig sausage gravy and the breakfast sandwich with bacon, scrambled eggs and cheddar cheese. l 548 Gillis in Columbus Park

Photo by Bonjwing Lee

Favorite Place To Grab Dinner

“If I can shoot out of work early, I’ll run over to Novel to catch the kitchen 20 minutes before it closes,” says Michael. He says he sits at the bar, drinks “bubbles,” and eats whatever Chef Ryan Brazeal brings out for him. “My favorite is his ricotta gnocchi with XO cognac.” l 816 W 17th in Westside

Photo by Megan Swann of Star Chefs