About Chef Maria

A Pastry Chef in the Making

Chef Maria's road to a professional pastry career began as a small child in her mother's kitchen. Learning the art of creating edible expressions of love delighted her from the time she was old enough to pull a stool up to the counter. Chef Maria dreamed of becoming a pastry chef long before the Food Network aired but initially believed it was unrealistic. She pursued a degree in Business Administration and followed a traditional career path instead.

Baking Competition

With a little help from God, a friendly baking rivalry at her weekly Bible study reminded Chef Maria of the joy she experienced in the kitchen with her mother. She left the security of her full-time IT career after nearly 20 years to enroll in Chicago's prestigious French Pastry School.

Passion for Pastry In Action

Chef Maria happily endured four-to-six-hour train commutes five days a week (224 total!) and a rigorous curriculum for six months to earn her L'Art de la Pâtisserie certificate. She immediately launched Decadence Bakery and Pastries as a storefront in Normal, IL.

Honor Your Parents

Two years into her successful venture, Chef Maria’s mother had a stroke. Chef Maria closed the bakery, promising her mother she wouldn’t abandon her in any other the four nursing homes she would live in. She kept her promise for the next six years, seven months, and one day of her mother's life. It was during this period Chef Maria reintroduced her company as Beyond Decadence.

Six years later she would honor a similar promise to be with her father until the end when he was diagnosed with dementia and Alzheimer's. "Papa Kemp" became a beloved figure on Chef Maria's social media pages as she shared heart-warming and funny stories of their adventures.  Papa Kemp graduated to be with Jesus on July 4, 2023.