On this "Food Stories" episode, I'm taking you back to where it all started - managing a grocery store fresh out of college. It wasn’t the fashion and design career I’d imagined, but it turned into an unexpected food journey that led to this podcast.

Back then, stacking candy (who knew you could have too much candy corn?) and arranging produce became my everyday life. But working in that grocery store was more than just a job. It was my introduction to the food world - understanding what people like to eat and how different foods get to our tables.

I'll share stories of what I learned from those early days and how that unanticipated detour has fueled my food writing and influenced this podcast today. As I travel to Madison, Wisconsin, and reflect on the Top Chef premiere in Milwaukee, it's clear that the lessons learned from the grocery store aisles have traveled with me. From stocking shelves to a Top Chef red carpet, join me as we unpack my unexpected food story.