They Fell in Love One Bite at a Time

When Elizabeth Nan Rasmussen met David Maynard Amini at a party hosted by the magazine Edible DC, she knew instantly that she needed him in her life, just not necessarily as a boyfriend. Their mutual friend AJ Dronkers, the magazine’s associate publisher at the time, introduced them, but Ms. Rasmussen, who goes by Libby, wasn’t looking to be set up on that evening in the spring of 2017.

“Initially, I was like: ‘I’m really interested in being your friend. You’re really cool. I need to have you in my orbit,’” she said.

Mr. Amini, on the other hand, was interested in more. “I feel fulfilled just by being near her and her excitement,” he said.

At the time, Ms. Rasmussen, now 34, worked in event planning and was building her online presence as a content creator about town. Mr. Amini, also 34, worked as a baker at Ellē in the Mt. Pleasant neighborhood of Washington. Their shared love of food brought them closer, and they started hanging out at food events and sharing recipes.

When Ms. Rasmussen found out his 27th birthday was coming up, she told Mr. Amini she was taking him out. They shared treats at Seylou Bakery, and she had him write down 28 things he wanted to accomplish before he turned 28, a birthday ritual Ms. Rasmussen holds for herself. Then they took a stroll around the National Arboretum in Washington. They later came to view that day as their first date.