Behind many of Marietta’s restaurants are partnerships built on shared dreams, long hours, and a deep love for this community. This Valentine’s Day, we’re celebrating couples who don’t just share life together, but also the kitchens and creative energy behind some of our favorite local spots. From menu planning and early mornings to date nights on the Square, these couples open up about what it’s really like to build a business side by side. Meet Scott & Alexis Kinsey of Fork U Concepts (Forno Vero, Silla del Toro, Stockyard Burgers & Bones, and Taqueria Tsunami), Nick & Theresa Jennings of Season Marietta, Katie & Micah Pfister of Sessions Stand and Micah-Angelos Pizza, and Daysha & Mark Mayfield of Sweet Living Bakery as they share their stories. These couples will share how they work together, support one another, stay balanced, and continue to pour their hearts into the Marietta dining scene we all love.
Alexis & Scott Kinsey – Fork U Concepts
Alexis and Scott Kinsey of Fork U Concepts have spent years building a business in Marietta, turning big ideas into local favorites along the way. In this Q&A, they share what it’s really like to work as a couple, why they love the Marietta community, and their go-to picks for a perfect Valentine’s Day right here in town.
How long have you been together?
We have been together for 17 years.
How long have you been in business in Marietta?
We have been in business in Marietta for 15 years.
What do each of you bring to the table in your business, and how do you work together as a couple?
Our restaurant background is vastly different, as Scott is a Chef and oversees all aspects of the kitchen and operation. I (Alexis) work in Marketing and Public Relations capacities, and support the front of house when needed, including serving.
What’s the biggest challenge and the greatest reward of working together?
Working together does come with its challenges, we have a saying “stay in your lane”, while we respect each other’s ideas and opinions, a healthy working relationship understands who will make the final call in a particular area, and you need to support that concept. Or failure is inevitable. This is also the biggest reward, building something together, watching an idea come to life and successfully doing so.
What do you love most about being part of the Marietta business community?
We LOVE Marietta! Often I refer to this market as the “Dennis the Menace” neighborhood, where you walk around and run into ten people that you know. It is a very close, involved and passionate community that promotes growth, arts and culture.
How do you find balance between your personal and professional lives? Any tips for other couples?
There is a lot of synergy between our personal and professional lives, and it is hard to distinguish between the two at times, especially owning and operating restaurants. There is never really a down time. We do find time with our children, and try to be in the moment during those times. We also try to book vacations a couple times a year.
What would your dream Valentine’s Day date look like right here in Marietta?
Marietta has so much to offer, you could literally spend the entire day and night here. Coffee, walk the park, shop at the boutiques and antique stores, dine out and then catch a show (I would be happy to recommend some restaurants!). There are so many great options.
Are you offering any Valentine’s Day specials, promotions, or events this year?
Yes! Silla del Toro is offering a Prix Fixe menu, Stockyard is offering a chef feature for the weekend, Taqueria Tsunami will be hosting a Galentine’s special on pitchers of margaritas and sangria, Forno Vero has a specialty Valentine’s Day cocktail menu which will be offered all weekend.
Is there a Marietta spot or experience you’d recommend for couples celebrating Valentine’s Day?
This is a hard question for me to answer, because I would recommend ALL of our restaurants for different experiences. Romantic Night – Silla del Toro, Fun night with the Gals for Galentine’s Day – Taqueria Tsunami and Forno Vero, for couples that want to get out for a great dinner in a more relaxed atmosphere – Stockyard.
Theresa and Nick Jennings – Season Marietta
Theresa and Nick Jennings of Season Marietta are building something thoughtful, creative, and deeply personal in the heart of Marietta. In this interview, the couple shares how they blend vision and balance, what it’s been like growing a business together, and why community, connection, and intention are at the center of everything they do, both in life and at Season.
How long have you been together?
4 years together and happily married for just over 4 months!
How long have you lived and/or been in business in Marietta?
We’ve lived in Marietta for 4 years and have been in business here for just under a year and a half.
What do each of you bring to the table in your business, and how do you work together as a couple?
With Season, Nick brings the big vision and endless creativity. He has always had a strong desire to build something truly special, unique, and high quality for people to experience. In the beginning, there were so many ideas that it was almost hard to narrow them down. My role became helping fine-tune that creativity and organize it in a way that allowed his vision to come to life.
As a couple, we work well together because we’ve learned how to communicate and trust each other’s strengths. Over time, we’ve worked through a lot of the challenges that come with building a business together, and now we each have clear roles that we own. That balance allows us to support one another while creating something that feels cohesive and intentional.
What’s the biggest challenge and the greatest reward of working together?
The biggest challenge for us is learning how to turn off work. We take a lot of pride in what we do, and Season truly feels like our baby, so even when we try to set aside time just for ourselves, we naturally end up talking about it. Because we care so deeply about what we’re building, it can be hard to separate work from personal time, but we’re also incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished in just the past year.
The greatest reward is that we are two best friends who also happen to love each other so much, and that makes working together even more meaningful. Our faith in the Lord has played a huge role in helping us embrace that foundation of friendship and love. As long as we stay focused on that, it makes the future we’re building together feel that much more purposeful—and every challenge along the way feels worth it.
What do you love about being part of the Marietta business community?
We have genuinely been humbled by how quickly the Marietta community has rallied around us and supported our small business. When we opened Season, our goal was to create something truly unique, thoughtful, and high quality—a place where Nick could have a kitchen designed for him to share his passion with others. We never expected to build such a personal connection with our guests.
What started as customers quickly turned into regulars, and more than a few have become friends, we now couldn’t imagine our lives without. That sense of community and connection has been one of the most meaningful parts of this journey.
How do you find balance between your personal and professional lives? Any advice for others?
As small business owners, especially in the early stages, there really isn’t a perfect formula for separating personal and professional life. For us, the two are heavily intertwined. We’re pouring so much of ourselves into this business right now in order to create something truly special for our community and something that means a lot to us personally, so balance doesn’t always look traditional for us.
Our advice to other couples would be to find someone you genuinely connect with and truly enjoy spending time with. When you love the person you’re building with, the long hours and hard work start to feel more like a shared purpose than sacrifice, and that makes the journey feel a lot more like fun.
What would your dream Valentine’s Day date look like right here in Marietta?
Our perfect Valentine’s Day would actually start at home. Nick would make breakfast in bed for me, soft scrambled egg omelet with a touch of Boursin, crispy bacon, and coffee fresh off the press. From there, we’d keep the day simple and relaxed, either catching a movie at the local theater or treating ourselves to a couples’ massage at Angel Foot.
For us, the perfect date is less about doing something extravagant and more about slowing down, enjoying good food, and spending uninterrupted quality time together.
Are you offering any Valentine’s Day Specials, promotions, or events this year?
Yes! We’re celebrating Valentine’s Day with a themed seasonal drink menu that will be available for the entire month of February. The lineup features fun, festive flavors like velvet, chocolate covered strawberry, raspberry white mocha, and an hibiscus agua fresca we’ve named Love Potion. It’s our way of adding a little extra sweetness and creativity to the season for our guests, and they will definitely be feeling the love.
Is there a Marietta spot or experience you’d recommend for couples celebrating Valentine’s Day?
Marietta has so much to offer beyond the traditional restaurant scene. For couples looking to celebrate in a more intimate way, we’d recommend stopping by Butcher on Whitlock or Asher & Rose to gather beautifully curated, high-quality ingredients.
There’s something especially romantic about choosing your meal together and preparing it side by side at home—it turns dinner into an experience that’s thoughtful, personal, and made with love from the heart.
Katie & Micah Pfister – Sessions Stand
Katie and Micah Pfister of Sessions Stand and Micah-Angelos Pizza have helped shape Marietta’s food scene with the kind of warmth and creativity that feels instantly familiar. In this Q&A, they share a peek into what it’s like building a business together, what keeps them grounded, and how they’d spend the perfect Valentine’s Day right here in town.
How long have you been together?
We will have been married for 15 years in May. But together for 17, we met when we both lived in Colorado working at The Ritz Carlton in Beaver Creek.
How long have you lived and/or been in business in Marietta?
We have lived in Marietta our entire marriage and opened a business after a year, so 14 years. We have owned/opened/operated WR Social House, The Butcher The Baker, Sessions Stand (baby Sessions), Sessions Stand & Brasserie(Sessions all grown up), and Micah-Angelos Pizza.
What do each of you bring to the table in your business, and how do you work together as a couple?
Micah is SO good at all the behind-the-scenes business stuff that keeps us running (licenses, taxes, all the super important things) and he also runs the kitchen, the line, and basically anything savory. I’m definitely more of the dreamer/creative one, and I handle the bakery side of Sessions. I’ll come to him with some crazy idea, and he helps me reel it in so it actually works in real life (and makes money). We really do balance each other out, though we’re both still totally willing to fly by the seat of our pants sometimes. I’m just so thankful we get each other.
What’s the biggest challenge and the greatest reward of working together?
Whew….after 14 years of working together what a question and where to start! It’s hard because since we’re both so in it. The job, the business, the stress of it all can take over all aspects of life at times. Things that happen at work roll over into personal and home and that can get really tricky to leave it all at work. The most rewarding part is through all the ups and the downs there is still no one I would rather do it all with, the long hours, the stressful aspects, the everyday grind. I am proud of what we have built together and even more proud that we were stronger together through it all.
What do you love most about being part of the Marietta business community?
We love the people of Marietta and the sense of community they create together. We are so thankful that everyone has always embraced our dream and helped make it possible. Marietta is big and bustling and has so much to offer, but in the best way. It has all the small town feels and charm and we are so very grateful to be a part of that!
How do you find balance between your personal and professional lives? Any tips for other couples?
Again, a hard one… I think we’re still working on this, and we’ll take advice, too! We have three boys at home, so it’s either busy at work or busy at home, but even finding a minute here or there for each other helps. Luckily, being in it together, understanding the demands of the industry, and knowing that as business owners we’re always “on call” helps us give each other grace when work interferes with or cuts into our personal life.
What would your dream Valentine’s Day date look like right here in Marietta?
Dinner at Spring 2nd Branch (our new favorite and they have my favorite wine), maybe a cocktail afterward… or, if we’re doing a family date, ice cream at Jeni’s.
Are you offering any Valentine’s Day specials, promotions, or events this year?
We will have a special coffee and cocktail menu all of February to celebrate the season. We are hosting a fun Galentines event on the 12th (6-8pm) so stop by for vendors, shopping at Saint and Goldie, cocktail specials, viewing of 10 Things I Hate about You, and more! Feb 13th and 14th we will have hand tied bouquets from our amazing local florist and we will have snack cakes + treats to help you make someone feel extra special.
Is there a Marietta spot or experience you’d recommend for couples celebrating Valentine’s Day?
Come cuddle up on our couches and get coffee, cocktails, or a treat with your love!
Daysha & Mark Mayfield – Sweet Living Bakery
Daysha and Mark Mayfield of Sweet Living Bakery have built a business rooted in partnership, purpose, and a whole lot of heart. In this interview, they share what it’s like working side by side, why community matters so much to them, and how Valentine’s Day becomes an extension of the love they pour into everything they create.
How long have you been together?
We have been together for 21 years.
How long have you lived and/or been in business in Marietta?
16 years
What do each of you bring to the table in your business, and how do you work together as a couple?
Daysha is the glue that holds the business together, bringing strong business acumen and a passion for creating high-quality bakery items every day. Mark is the people person, focused on guest experience and setting high standards for the front of the house. With his background as a Marine Corps cook, he also brings discipline and hands-on expertise to food production.
What do you love most about being part of the Marietta business community?
What we love most about being part of the Marietta business community is the genuine support and connection. It’s a place where small businesses truly show up for one another, relationships matter, and neighbors become regulars and friends. Being able to serve our community, grow together, and feel rooted in a town that values local businesses means everything to us.
How do you find balance between your personal and professional lives? Any tips for other couples?
Finding balance while running Sweet Living Bakery isn’t always easy, but clear communication and defined roles help us stay grounded. We’re intentional about giving each other grace, checking in often, and making time outside the bakery to reconnect as a couple. Our biggest advice for other couples is to lean into each other’s strengths, support one another through the busy seasons, and always remember the love that inspired the dream in the first place.
What would your dream Valentine’s Day date look like right here in Marietta?
Our dream Valentine’s Day date right here in Marietta is a little sweet and a little indulgent. We may be biased, but hosting our Truffles, Sips & Bites Valentine’s event at Sweet Living Bakery is the perfect way to celebrate—sharing handcrafted treats, sipping something special, and spending the evening surrounded by the customers and community we love. There’s nothing more romantic to us than good food, great company, and sharing the love with Marietta.
Are you offering any Valentine’s Day specials, promotions, or events this year?
Yes! We have so much to offer this Valentine’s Day—from our Truffles, Sips & Bites event to a variety of specialty desserts created just for the occasion. Even if you’re not able to celebrate with us in person, we still have you covered with amazing Valentine’s desserts to share (or keep for yourself!). We’re also offering special flower bouquets handcrafted by Mark, making it easy to create a sweet and thoughtful Valentine’s moment all in one place.
Is there a Marietta spot or experience you’d recommend for couples celebrating Valentine’s Day?
Absolutely—Truffles, Sips & Bites at Sweet Living Bakery is our top recommendation for couples celebrating Valentine’s Day in Marietta. It’s an intimate, sweet experience designed for sharing great flavors and quality time together. Space is limited, so we recommend reserving your spot early!