KARA ANDERSON, Chef de Cuisine

Kara Anderson began her culinary career at The Carriage Club of Kansas City in 2010 while attending culinary school. She followed her passion for cooking to Portland, Oregon, where she fell in love with using fresh local produce and seafood in her cooking.

Upon returning to Kansas City, Kara worked at The Rieger, where she was Sous Chef for three years. While continuing to pursue the best ingredients Kansas City has to offer, Kara cooked at The Restaurant at 1900, Ca Va, Karbon, and Kansas City Canning Company. In her time outside of the kitchen Kara enjoys supporting other local chefs, enjoying a cold beer and shot of whiskey at her neighborhood bar, running, and spending time with her favorite tiny human.

SARA OSBORN, Pastry Chef

After studying art and design at the University of Central Missouri, Sara Osborn returned to Kansas City and took a part-time job as a decorator at a local cupcake shop in 2010. She quickly decided to change gears and use her creative background to pursue a career in baking and pastry.

A self-taught baker, Sara has frequented a variety of kitchens around Kansas City, including Little Freshie, Betty Rae’s, bluestem, and even started her own microbakery, made.kc in 2017. 

At Verbena, Sara hopes to highlight the amazing Kansas City food community and bring nostalgic desserts with a New England twist to guests. When she’s not in the Verbena kitchen, Sara can be found in her garden, hiking around with her kiddo, or snuggled up with her two cats and bunny enjoying local craft beers. 

JONATHAN CRABTREE, Bar Manager and Sommelier

Jon started working at the age of 14 as a dishwasher and busboy for his family’s restaurant, Mrs. Peters in Kansas City, Kansas. When his family decided to sell the place more than 20 years ago, the hospitality bug never left him.

Beverage quickly became a big focus, and has led Jon to work in many popular restaurants in the Kansas City, and Lawrence areas, creating cocktail and martini menus and successful wine lists.

Verbena will provide Jon, and his fellow hospitality professionals, a new venue to show our love for wine, mixology, and chef-driven cuisine. Jon will help manage, be behind the bar, and help with guests’ selections from the wine list and private wine dinners.

GASPARE DI ROSA, Service and Training Manager

Born in Palermo, Sicily, Gaspare has traveled the world and gained experience in some of the world’s best hotels and restaurants.

In Paris, he worked at Café de la Paix at the Intercontinental Le Grand Hôtel’ Place de l’Opera (*Michelin Star), Restaurant “Le W” at The Warwick Hotel on The Champs Élysées (*Michelin Star), and L’Espadon at The Ritz Hotel Place Vendôme (** Michelin Stars).

In Paris, he forged may life-long friendships and, most important, met his wife, Juli. After leaving Paris to travel across Europe, he moved to Dubai for a restaurant management position with the InterContinental Hotel Group. After returning to Italy to spend time with family and get married, Gaspare and Juli moved to Kansas City, where she is from.

Gaspare worked at Café Provence for five years before coming over to help the Quillec family manage service and training at Verbena. With family in New England, he feels right at home here.

Family is essential to Gaspare, and his passion is cooking for friends and family. He also likes making cocktails, drinking good wine in good company, watching (and playing) soccer, reading Italian and French poetry, and listening to music.

ASHLEY ROBARDS, Manager

Most recently, she was the food and beverage manager and event coordinator at The Saddle And Sirloin Club of Kansas City.

Ashley loves horses and dogs (especially her two dogs, Cade and Roxie) and working out at the gym. She’s been married for four years and has lived in Kansas City her entire life. (Interesting fact: Ashley was the Quillecs’ next-door neighbor when they moved back to KC!)

ANNA SORGE, Events Manager

Anna has over 10 years of experience in events and has worked in all aspects of the industry.

Good at wearing many hats, Anna is adept at responding quickly to changing circumstances, always maintaining a positive, can-do attitude. Anna’s gifts of organization, attention to detail, creative imagination, concept design and contagious enthusiasm have earned her a reputation for excellence and she and her team produce events that are memorable and exceed expectations.

In her spare time, Anna is a wife and mother to four amazing children. She enjoys cooking and entertaining in their home in Kansas City.