Kijac, Maria Baez

A native of Quito, Ecuador, Maria Baez Kijac came to the United States to attend Northwestern University, where she earned her degree in Liberal Arts. She began her culinary education at Dumas Pre L'Ecole de la Cuisine Francaise where she earned her degree in French cooking. She went on to study at the Alambique Cooking School in Madrid, and under a number of recognized chefs in Latin America. Kijac has taught cooking class in the Chicago metropolitan area for more than a decade. She was a food consultant and kitchen director for the PBS series American Family Kitchen. She is a member of the Culinary Historians of Chicago, International Association of Culinary Professionals, the Slow Food organization, and the jury for the International Slow Food Award for the Defense of Biodiversity. Kijac lives in Lincolnshire, Illinois.;