I didn't figure out what I wanted to do with my life until after I graduated college. I had considered culinary school at that point, but the reality of more tuition bills squashed that dream quickly. I had loved food and cooking growing up, but never thought of it as a career. This changed on my first visit to downtown Chicago as a recent graduate and transport to the big city. I saw a great restaurant city first hand. Packed to the brim, sizzling steaks, guests sipping martinis, managers and waitstaff moving effortlessly through the crowds. I was hooked.