Pat Strother works as a personal chef and caterer. She has twelve years experience in fine dining, including two years experience as a chef at the Masters in Augusta. Pat draws inspiration from her travels in Europe and Latin America. She owns and operates Impeccable Taste Catering.

When Mara & Ford Smith married, they learned to cook together by using a variety of cookbooks from the library. Raising their daughter, they opened one of the first gourmet specialty food stores in Charlotte, NC. While traveling full-time, they created their own cookbook, The Adventurous Cookbook. In addition, they served as volunteers at the International Eastern Wine Competition. They have published five books including the Camp the US series, The Retirement Sourcebook, 101 Secrets for a Great Retirement, and ABC All-American Riddles (a 2005 Children's Choice award-winner). Having selected Tryon, NC as a base, they have collaborated with their neighbor, caterer Pat Strother, to produce entertainwithstyle. More of the Smiths' work can be seen at their web site livesimplywithstyle.com.