Kristin Gennuso graduated from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst with a political science degree, all roads leading toward a non-culinary path. While working for a criminal defense lawyer in Boston she picked up a part-time job as a hostess at the acclaimed Hamersley’s Bistro. One night a week turned into two nights a week, and so on. She transitioned from hostess to assistant manager and remained happily employed there for ten years. 

At Hamersley’s she learned from the best about food, wine, customer service and managerial skills. It also happened to be the place where she met a line cook, Matthew Gennuso. As a team they realized they were able to understand both sides of the house in the restaurant business, so off they went to open a restaurant together. 

Expectations were high for the Gennuso’s when they took over East Side favorite Chez Pascal in the spring of 2003. But the Gennuso's quickly exceeded those expectations, consistently winning accolades from the local media and foodies alike. Gennuso promptly gained recognition for his cuisine, which reinterprets the French classics and infuses them with fresh, modern appeal, while Kristin handles all the complexities of the front of the house.

Together they have opened a restaurant, launched a hot dog cart and a food truck, opened a small open kitchen inside Chez Pascal called The Wurst Kitchen, which focuses on their housemade sausages, and are now taking a stab at designing comfortable aprons for cooks. The restaurant continues to be a labor of love.