Originally from Las Vegas, Marie moved to Chicago in 2012 to pursue a graduate degree in History. She is an enthusiastic home cook and loves experimenting with new techniques, ingredients, and recipes. Her favorite thing to make is meatballs. She loves cooking shows and has been known to stage Chopped-style challenges for herself, often with decidedly mixed results. When she's not helping guests as a Retail Associate at The Chopping Block or working on her dissertation, Marie enjoys exploring Chicago's neighborhoods through festivals, museums, and of course restaurants.