After a childhood marked by culinary curiosity and travel, Mary Tennis began writing about food in 2001 as a regular columnist in Duluth’s Ripsaw newspaper. Exploring local restaurants and food personalities, Tennis honed a creative voice and a conversational tone over the course of several years. She has also written and performed poetry, musician bios, and interviews for various publications in the Duluth area, and occasionally performs narratives from her memoirs at public venues. In 2023, she co-authored Smoke on The Waterfront, a cookbook and business memoir centered on Northern Waters Smokehaus, one of the region’s most beloved food destinations.