About Chef Maria

A Pastry Chef in the Making

Chef Maria’s pastry journey began in her mother’s kitchen. There as a small child, she found joy in creating edible expressions of love. Dreaming of becoming a pastry chef long before culinary careers were mainstream, she initially saw this path as unrealistic. Instead, she pursued a Business Administration degree and followed a more traditional career path.

Baking Competition

With a little help from God, a friendly baking competition at her weekly Bible study rekindled Chef Maria’s love for the kitchen. Inspired by this renewed passion, she left the security of a nearly 20-year IT career to enroll in Chicago's prestigious French Pastry School.

Passion for Pastry In Action

Chef Maria’s commitment shone bright as she endured four-to-six-hour train commutes five days a week—224 commutes in total—through a rigorous six-month curriculum to earn her L'Art de la Pâtisserie certificate. Immediately after, she launched Decadence Bakery and Pastries as a storefront in Normal, IL.

Honor Your Parents

Two years into her successful venture, Chef Maria’s mother suffered a stroke. Chef Maria closed the bakery, promising her mother she wouldn’t abandon her in any of 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. "Little Mama" got her wings on Chef Maria's pastry school graduation 9th anniversary.  Chef Maria then reintroduced her business as Beyond Decadence.

Six years later she would honor a similar promise to her father when he was diagnosed with dementia and late-stage 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.