Recipe for romance

It was NOT love at first sight for Adam Kreisel and Alicia Leonard. Kreisel, past chef at The Globe Cafe at Sundance, was hired as a consultant at Boulevard restaurant, where Leonard was the general manager.

"We didn't care for each other at all. I thought she was cute, but that was as far as it went," Kreisel said. "We are both pretty stubborn and protective of ourselves."

Venison was the turning point, he said. "One particular night we had some venison loin that was pretty good, and I decided to make something for the staff as a late-night family meal. Up until then, she had been under the impression that I was just a pain in the neck. I fired up this napoleon that was a base of onion-butter stuffing, stacked with rum-soaked cranberries, then arugula, and a fan of the venison on top, and a cognac-reduction sauce pooled around it. When I plated it for her, she was caught totally off guard — at least she didn't think I was purely evil."

After that, a lot of talking and trust helped bring them together, Kreisel said. They now live in Sugarhouse with their 11-month-old daughter, as well as Leonard's two daughters from her previous marriage.

Kreisel is in the throes of opening a new restaurant, Acme Burger, next to P.F. Chang's in downtown Salt Lake City. Leonard has left the restaurant business and operates a hair salon from their home.

Kreisel's advice to anyone thinking about mixing restaurants and relationships: "Be careful. If you spend enough time with someone, there are times when you are at each other's throats, and if you end up having to go to work together, it doesn't make anyone happy."

On the other hand, it's convenient if your loved one also works the nights and weekends of the typical restaurant chef, "or you would never see them," he said. "Even though she's no longer in the restaurant business, it's a great relief that she understands it. It's very difficult to find people who understand that I'm tied to this job. I'm into it emotionally, I have a responsibility to get things done. It always ends up that somehow they don't really get it or can't handle that kind of schedule."

RAY & CARLA QUINTANA

You've got to give Ray and Carla Quintana credit for longevity— they've worked together in the restaurant industry for 35 years, since Carla was 15 and Ray was 16. The couple has owned East Coast Subs, at 5015 S. State, for the past 20 years.

"My husband and I work side by side six days a week — ouch!" joked Carla.