Supermarket Sweethearts
Supermarket Sweethearts
Co-workers who spend all day together have a pretty high chance of meeting "the one" at work. As grocery stores have always been a classic meet-cute location, it follows that Kelsey and Andrew are among good company. They are but one of the many couples who have met (and some who've married) at Kowalski's in the last 36 years.
Produce Manager Andrew, who started with Kowalski's as a courtesy clerk in 1996, had his eye on Cheese Specialist Kelsey the minute she arrived at Grand in 2015. Self-described as "painfully shy," he felt butterflies in his stomach as he'd push his produce cart past her every day. She was, Andrew professes, "a cool chick." And though their desks were next to each other in the office, it wasn't until they were seated across from each other at a Kowalski's holiday party that Kelsey really took note of Andrew.
"Everyone else was talking about sports," she says, "but he was talking about 'The Great British Baking Show.'" His mention of the popular program was no accident, Andrew says. "I was trying to reel her in."
It was months later in May when Andrew found his opportunity to start a conversation with Kelsey again. Black velvet apricots had just arrived in the store, so Andrew offered Kelsey a chance to experience this particularly special fruit by approaching her with a fresh slice. A few days later, they had their first real date at Bar La Grassa.
One and a half years later, Andrew and Kelsey got engaged and were married this past October, 11 months later. The happy couples jets off on their honeymoon this month.
When they're not traveling, these lovebirds enjoy quiet time in their St. Paul home and, like so many Kowalski's employees, love to cook for each other. They're known for their weekly chef-offs – not so much a competition as a sportsmanlike challenge to create a 3- to 5-course tasting menu featuring a different vegetable in each dish.
"Celery Week was a highlight," says Kelsey.
And though candied celery over ice cream and a cocktail called the "Retox" (made with celery juice and vodka) might not be for everyone, for these foodies, it's all part of the recipe for a very happy relationship.
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