Instead of jumping into restaurant ownership right away, the two chose to further educate themselves, learn from others, and extend their careers in various ways, to prepare for their ultimate goal. James remained and grew at Restaurant Joanina through it’s transformations - the end of Renaissance Gourmet, the building of the bar, and the expansion of the restaurant and wine shop. Meghan went a different route and pursued her career in journalism, which quickly morphed into her having a role as a producer and editor for Fox News Digital with a focus solely on food & wine. After Fox, Meghan worked in restaurant marketing — helping independent restaurants find a voice for themselves on the internet through social media. Little did they know, that their experiences over many years, would help them so greatly in their upcoming venture.