She always wanted to cook and never thought much about money. But life gets strange when everyone’s wondering what to do with half a pound of broccoli and some dry kidney beans and you know the answer. The chef and cookbook author on her pandemic money story.

The maker of the underground hit “Chonto,” writer on “Silicon Valley,” and author of "Cherry on Top" took a circuitous route to Hollywood success. A route that ran through the grocery store deli counter.