Meet Nan, the General Manager Who Does It All

From the Kitchen to the Heart of Vinnie’s: Meet Nan, the General Manager Who Does It All

At Vinnie’s Neighborhood Italian, we pride ourselves on more than just our mouthwatering dishes and warm ambiance—we're a family. At the heart of this family at Vinnie’s South is Nan, former Executive Chef and host, and now our General Manager, whose journey to the top is as rich and varied as the flavors she grew up with in Brooklyn.

A Culinary Journey with a Twist

Nan grew up in an Italian family, and she’s well-versed in the art of making Sunday Gravy and arancini. She brings that same authenticity to Vinnie’s, but her roots go deeper than the restaurant industry. Before becoming a chef and manager, she was a drywaller and spent 15 years in construction, running a plumbing company for five of those years. At age 39 she decided to go back to school, encouraged by her family and friends to pursue her passion for cooking. 

Nan began her culinary career with the Carolina Panthers while still in school, securing an internship that would propel her into the world of professional cooking. From there, she moved to Asheville, trading the hustle of Charlotte for the mountains, where she held positions at Grove Park, Deerfield, and a private health company. Through hard work and determination, she worked her way up to Executive Chef and Executive Sous Chef, despite the challenges she faced particularly as a female chef in a male-dominated field. She’d hear the whispers of doubt from those around her, but she never let that stop her. “Guess what, here I am. Watch and learn,” she’d say with a confident smile. “I come in and I do me.”

Overcoming Challenges with Grace

Nan’s resilience is inspiring, and her journey hasn’t been without other challenges. Diagnosed with osteorheumatoid arthritis, she’s had to navigate the fine line between pushing herself and knowing when to rest. Upon her diagnosis, she was told she only had three years left in a kitchen, and she pushed those three years as much as she could. Stepping away from the leadership position she had worked so hard to achieve wasn’t easy. Yet, through therapy, she’s managed to keep going. “This is the first full year I haven’t had to use my cane,” she says. “It’s about learning when to rest and when to move.”

“I didn’t want to leave the restaurant industry,” Nan reflects. “So when I saw the posting for a Front of House position at Vinnie’s, I took a chance, even if it felt like a big fall from grace going from chef to host. I have two degrees in culinary. I didn’t want to give that up. It’s why I tend to gravitate to the kitchen here at Vinnie’s. They all call me chef. It’s a high form of respect that has to be earned, and they have always referred to me as chef. I love that respect and I give them the same. I love being in that kitchen.”

A Leader, Mentor, and Mama Bear

Nan started as a host but quickly moved up, just as she had always done before. She’s worked alongside other managers to bridge the gap between our front and back of the house, fostering a sense of unity that reverberates throughout the restaurant. “This is the first time we’ve had such cohesiveness,” she says proudly. “Servers bringing the line cooks water, cooks offering to work front of house if needed—it’s a family here. There are no cliques, no fighting. Just respect and support.”

Nan has become the “Mama Bear” of Vinnie’s, a role she embraces wholeheartedly. She’s there for her team, whether it’s running behind the line, covering the host stand, or bussing tables. “There’s nothing I won’t do,” she says. “If push comes to shove, I’ll be there.”

Nan’s goal is to continue supporting and growing others in the restaurant industry and share her extensive background and skills with the next generation of chefs and managers. “It would be great to move out of the daily service part of it and get back to my real roots,” she says. “But until then, I’m here, leading by example.”

Nan’s outgoing personality lights up Vinnie’s South every day. She has a natural ability to make people smile, whether it’s through a warm greeting at the door, a joke in the kitchen, or simply by being her authentic, caring self. Her presence is felt by everyone, from the team members she mentors to the guests who feel at home the moment they walk in. We’re incredibly lucky to have Nan’s positivity and experience guiding us. She’s not just the General Manager—she’s part of the heart and soul of Vinnie’s South, ensuring that our restaurant remains a place where everyone feels valued, connected, and welcomed with a smile.

Nan remains motivated by a simple philosophy: “If I don’t learn something every day, then what’s the point?”