I wanted to be a literary writer, so I wrote story after story and sent them to 'The New Yorker.'

After I outlined 'Catering to Nobody,' I went and worked for a caterer. And the other thing I had to do was to talk to the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department about how they investigated a crime.

I wanted to be a literary writer, so I wrote story after story and sent them to 'The New Yorker.'

Writing is work and cooking is relaxing.

I'm always astonished to see how badly people can behave when they think no one is noticing.

I told the caterer I'd work for nothing if he'd teach me about catering. I lasted one week full-time. It was exhausting.

Catering is extremely demanding financially and physically. It's a business.