Marie has been cooking all her life, though growing up caught between two cultures, traditional Anglo – Australian and Maltese, she didn’t always appreciate it. Family gatherings to bake Christmas treats, or stuff olives were considered “very daggy” however the joy and tradition of sharing food and celebrating together have certainly rubbed off. For Marie “cooking is love” and her passion began at age 11, when her mother returned to work. Since then, she has come a long way from her first recipe of baked bean hotpot.
For many years, Marie has provided friends with jams, sauces and relishes, made from her own garden or with produce donated by friends. In 2006, Marie established her business “Rie’s Kitchen” launching an online shop, Youtube Channel and blog to share her love of cooking with a broader audience.
The hobby has now grown, and Marie has expanded to provide cooking demonstrations at a range of community events and festivals including the Portarlington Mussel festival, Prahran market, libraries and local neighbourhood houses. “I always said when I grow up, I want to be Maggie Beer, and when I turned 40, my girlfriend Jenny asked how old do you need to be to be grown up?” said Marie.
Rie’s Kitchen is distinguished with its focus on locally produced products, with Marie personally knowing the grower of all her main ingredients. In 2008 and at the age of 40, Marie was diagnosed with Coeliac’s disease, she described this as “a complete life change” and at first devastating for a “foodie”. However, now all Rie’s Kitchen products and recipes are gluten free, with everything on there being what she cooks and eats!
Marie is currently finalising her new cookbook – “Journeys” following on from her first “Origins”. Marie will be showcasing her culinary skills and passion for food at the Gluten Free Lifestyle Show, where she will conduct engaging cooking demonstrations and share her favourite gluten-free recipes. Stay tuned for more exciting exhibitor and speaker lineup announcements!
