"I saw her talent and figured I had to take advantage of her," Justin joked. "She's always been a really good cook. I can follow a recipe, but she's a lot more creative. She's more the boss and I'm more the prep cook. "

One of Nina's creations that he especially loves is Five-Spice Thai Beef, often served as a dinner special at Plates & Palates. Star anise and fresh red chiles give it some heat, and it's topped with fresh cold veggies, "So it has both hot and cold going on," Justin said.

Because they have three children, they trade off work and child-care duties. "When she's catering weddings, I do a lot of watching the kids," Justin said.

What helps them sustain both the professional and personal relationship? "We were friends first," said Justin. "But you take things a lot more personal than you normally would. A co-worker could say something that would roll off your back, but if your spouse says something to you, it's a little harder to swallow."

"We balance each other out well," said Nina. "I'm sometimes high-stress and he's more low-key, so together we make a great team."

LITA & ERIC MAY

Lita and Eric May met while working as line cooks at the Water's Edge restaurant in New York City. Since their marriage, they have worked at three restaurants together, including two years at Simon's at The Homestead in Midway. When that restaurant was closed, Eric took a job as chef at the Blue Boar Inn. Lita comes in part-time, she said.

"We've worked together for seven years, so we're very used to it," Eric said.

One of the advantages of having a spouse in the same profession is that "she understands why I have to work such long hours, the holidays and the nights," said Eric. "It's harder for other relationships because they don't realize why you can't take Mother's Day or weekends off."

"We watch each other's back, even without saying anything, we know what each other is doing and help each other," said Lita. "If I'm making lobster bisque, he'll jump in and chop the fennel and the mirepoix while I flame the lobster."

How do they balance their working and personal relationship? "We were good friends before we married," said Eric. "And when we're at work, it's work. We try to leave our personal life out of it. We don't fight in the kitchen."

"I tend to get more emotional than him. But we don't get angry and throw knives or anything," said Lita.

And each has his own specialty, added Eric. "She does fish very well and I do meats really well, so we balance each other out."

ADAM KREISEL & ALICIA LEONARD