Kansas City has always been shaped by the people who choose to invest in it. From neighborhood restaurants to local farmers and makers, the city’s character lives in everyday decisions where we gather, who we support, and how we show up.
Chef and restaurateur Amante Domingo has built his work around those choices. In this conversation, he reflects on what supporting local really looks like, and why small acts of care can have a lasting impact on the city we call home.
Your restaurants have been local favorites and contributed to the cultural landscape of Kansas City. What does “supporting local” mean to you?
Domingo: Supporting local isn’t a slogan to me, it’s a relationship. It means knowing who grew your food, who made your plates, who printed your menus, and who’s standing next to you when things get hard. It’s choosing to invest your dollars, your time, and your attention in people who live here and care about this place as much as you do. When you support local, you’re not just buying a meal, you’re helping build a city with a heartbeat.
How can Kansas Citians be a part of making Kansas City a desirable place to live and visit?
Domingo: Show up. Be curious. Take pride in where you live. Try the new restaurant down the street. Talk to the owner. Bring out-of-town friends to places that feel honest, not just polished. Cities become desirable when the people who live there believe in them first. Kansas City has soul, grit, and creativity. When locals treat it like something worth protecting, others feel that energy the moment they arrive.
How can social media and online reviews help move the needle for local small businesses?
Domingo: They matter more than people realize. A kind review, a tagged photo, a shared story, those things travel far. For a small business, it’s modern word of mouth. It helps us reach people we may never meet otherwise, and it builds trust before someone ever walks through the door. You don’t need to be an influencer to make an impact. Just be honest, be generous, and use your voice.
You often work with local farmers, artisans, and makers. Can you share examples of how those partnerships elevate the guest experience and impact the broader community?
Domingo: When you work with local farmers and makers, the story becomes part of the meal. Guests can taste the difference, but they can also feel it. Knowing that the vegetables came from a nearby farm or that a ceramic plate was made by a Kansas City artist adds meaning. It creates pride on both sides. Those partnerships keep money circulating locally, support creative livelihoods, and strengthen a network that benefits everyone, not just restaurants.
Can you share any specific stories of how small actions of support by locals have created a big impact for your businesses?
Domingo: There are so many. A neighbor bringing in a friend because “you have to try this place.” A regular who leaves a thoughtful review after a tough week. Someone buying a gift card just to help us through a slow season. Those small gestures stack up. They remind us that we’re not doing this alone. Restaurants are built on community, and it’s often the quiet acts of support that carry us the furthest
At the end of the day, supporting local isn’t about grand gestures. It’s about intention. It’s about choosing connection over convenience, curiosity over routine, and community over anonymity. When Kansas Citians show up for the places and people that make this city special, the impact reaches far beyond a single meal or moment. It’s how culture is built, neighborhoods thrive, and Kansas City continues to feel like home.
Amante Domingo is the chef and owner behind The Russell, Le Champion, and Noka, where his work continues to center hospitality, craft, and community in Kansas City.
The Russell // therussellonmain.com/
A hearty and seasonally-driven daytime wood-fired Grill. Offering famously good catering.
Le Champion // lechampionkc.com/
Coffee bar and lounge with a vintage Ralph Lauren feel and upscale bar bites and cocktails
Noka // noka.restaurant/
Japanese inspired cuisine, stylishly presented for a beautiful, warm, and hospitable dining experience