About Maria

Chef Maria

Chef Maria is from Colombia. Her experience in the kitchen began as a hobby in Africa when, at 13 years old, she had the opportunity to cook for her father’s diplomatic mission.

Later on, she ran a cozy coffee “café” in Bogotá, sharing crepes, natural fruit juices and Colombian pastries with travellers from around the world. The Colombian coffee federation certified her as a coffee gourmet expert

Not enough for this journalist and entrepreneur, Chef Maria created a Colombian TV program to showcase Colombia’s indigenous gastronomic culture.

Later in Ottawa, she complemented her practical experience as chef with formal studies at the Cordon Bleu school. Following this training, she obtained a diploma in Food and Nutrition at Algonquin College. Today, she is totally filled with a passion for cooking-creating a truly unique Latino-Canadian mix of flavours and foods.

Chef Maria specializes in Latino food which derives from the Spanish culture when the old world smelled of pineapples and knew what the yucca, arracacha and plantains were, and blends in her unique knowledge and style taken from the tables of Europe.

There are thousands of exotic recipes unknown outside of the Latino world. Let Chef Maria introduce to you to new world fusions flavours.