46 WWW.CHARLESTONWOMENPODCAST.COM | WWW.READCW.COM | WWW.INSTAGRAM.COM/CHARLESTONWOMEN Growing up in an 800-year-old village in East Germany, Anja Stief always had her hands in the dirt, growing produce such as cucumbers, beans, beets, tomatoes and cherries to enjoy fresh, can for the winters and trade with neighbors. Her family also tended their own livestock. The first flight she ever took was at 18 years old, when she traveled to Atlanta in 1997 to take on a role as a nanny for a little girl. Soon after, she met a good friend of the family she worked for, Todd Stief, who would later become her husband. Todd, who is also of German descent, was raised on a fifth-generation soybean, wheat and corn farm in Ohio. After attending Johnson & Wales University in Charleston, he opened a restaurant and catering company in Atlanta. In 1998, he suggested relocating to the Holy City where he and Anja moved and opened their catering business, Dish & Design. Now, as owner and operational overseer of the company, Anja spends most of her time at the shop working alongside her talented team of chefs, event planners and catering staff to bring her clients’ visions and expectations to life. Whether curating the menu for a corporate board meeting or a private function WHERE GATHERING B E G I N S Inspired by a childhood on the farm, Anja Stief creates memorable events through exceptional food and thoughtful design. BY SARAH ROSE
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjcyNTM1