This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Chef Rene Johnson, the founder of Blackberry Soul Fine Catering and entrepreneur behind Link and Thrive, a mentorship program for business owners. It has been edited for length and clarity. I didn't even like food as a kid. What I loved was being with my grandmother, who always made everything from scratch , and the way our family gathered around her food. That's where it started for me — not with cooking, but with connection. I was her