He left KC and his family’s 40-year-old Italian restaurant, moved to NY, became a vegan chef and he’s back in KC this month, meet Anthony Spino
Anthony Spino grew up in his parent’s Italian restaurant, Anthony’s Italian Restaurant and Lounge at 701 Grand. He learned to cook from his great grandmother, his mom and other great cooks and chefs, from Kansas City to New York, and recently in the Philippines. The last few years he has worked in the kitchens of some of New York’s best vegan, plant-based and vegetarian chefs and in the process he’s learned a new way of cooking. Now he’s cooking his family’s traditional Italian recipes using plant-based and vegan ingredients. Recently he started jarring his own tomato sauce and Italian dressing and they can be found in stores in New York and he will be back home in Kansas City, Sunday, February 16 through Saturday, February 22.
He’s currently taking orders and preparing his vegan options for you try right here in Kansas City. His offerings include: baked pasta with homemade almond ricotta, arancini, tofu mogu, jarred tomato sauce and Italian dressing. Check out his Anthony’s Eastside website for a full menu and place your orders there.
In anticipation of his homecoming and Anthony’s Italian Restaurant and Lounge’s 40th anniversary, we caught up with Anthony Spino recently for our 9 Questions with a Maker feature.
1. What inspires you and your work?
The future of food and cooking and sharing all of the healthy and delicious ingredients that I’ve come across while working with some of the top chefs in Kansas City and New York.
2. Are makers doers or dreamers?
Both -- you have to dream it first.
3. What invention / product do you wish you would have created?
Facetime. Living in New York and traveling all over the world sometimes I miss family and friends. After a Facetime session no matter how far away I am I feel like we had a visit.
4. What is the worst invention / product still embraced by modern society?
Couch potatoes.
5. If you could sit down and have a drink with any person in your industry, who would it be and why?
Doctor Michael Greger. He is an American physician, author, and professional speaker on public health issues, particularly the benefits of a whole-food, plant-based diet. He also came up with the Daily Dozen, which is, as the name suggests, 12 items to consume daily. Before learning about the Daily Dozen I was constantly trying not to eat foods and now I strive to eat everything from this list everyday.
6. What do you love most about the Maker Movement happening in Kansas City right now?
Growing up in KC, l always thought of our downtown as having so much potential, and now seeing how much it’s evolved is a dream come true. This actually goes for the entire city. Every time that my wife, Denise, and I visit she puts together a list of places to visit and all of them are businesses unique to KC.
7. Who or what is another maker in Kansas City that you’re impressed and inspired by?
My brother, Vito, and Michael Todd, who have been running Anthony’s Restaurant for the last decade have been investing in property downtown. They recently opened The Jewel, a beautiful event space with AirBnb lofts attached. Look them up if you have an upcoming event or guest from out of town searching for a really cool spot to stay while visiting KC.
8. What Kansas City creation / icon best reflects our makers’ community?
My dad, Butch Spino, is an icon of Kansas City that reflects our makers’ community. He opened Anthony’s in 1978, back when no one believed in downtown. Everyone told him that downtown was not a good place to open a restaurant. I’m glad he didn’t listen because we are now celebrating more than 40 years of business. On February 22, we are having a party for the restaurant’s anniversary. It’s at The Jewel and open to the public. It should be a great celebration.
9. If you could ask people to do just ONE thing to support the Maker Movement what would you ask or tell them?
Support local businesses. As a KC Original, we have been saying this for years and I know that all of the KC Original members and our customers at Anthony’s have been living this message. I’m inspired by the younger generations because I see them owning this tradition!
This story was originally published February 4, 2020 at 12:13 PM.