The position at Jacob's Pillow was his first experience catering to special needs diets and buying directly from farmers. Together with his brother and colleague, Stehling eventually opened Hominy Grill in Charleston, South Carolina, where he served as kitchen manager.  It was here that he learned the majority of what he knows about the restaurant business.

In 2001, Stehling opened Early Girly Eatery with his wife, Julie. Stehling says his cooking style is mostly Southern with a bit of Appalachian. What he cooks depends on a variety of factors including availability of ingredients, environment, weather, mood, and cost. He constantly strives to improve his cooking, and himself, through hard work. He loves the Asheville community and loves to make people happy.