About me
Executive Editor of Luxe Beat Magazine, Past President of the International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association,. Maralyn was CEO of NoraLyn Ltd.; Host / Producer over 90 Time Warner Cable food shows from 2002-2006; Editor and Columnist, Where & What in the World; Columnist, Big Blend Magazine; Co-author "Our Love Affairs with Food & Travel;" "Cooking Secrets the Why and How...;" and 2009 INDIE Finalist "Success, Your Path to a Successful Book." Contributor, Meetings Mexico & Latin America; Global Writes; SOGONOW.com; author of international and domestic incentive programs and support material. Freelance food, wine, travel journalist/broadcaster.
Maralyn is also a member of the Society of American Travel Writers and the Society of Professional Journalists.
Maralyn says she is part of the Hill Team.She has co-authored her books with long time friend Brenda Hill and together and individually, they are food judges (Tandem Tasters) and write articles. They also co-authored "Cooking Secrets" with French Master Chef Herve Laurent and conduct workshops and gives talks.
She prides herself on staying up with current trends and discovering more all the time as she and Brenda did at Bocuse d'Or with French Master Chef Herve Laurent in January 2009 and when she covered Taste of the Caribbean in June 09. In November 2010, the Tandem Tasters will be judges at the Conch Festival in Turks & Caicos. She returned to Bocuse d'Or in 2013 and in 2015 with Editor-in-Chief of of Luxe Beat Magazine, Sherrie Wilkolaski.
Cooking Influences
My mother, grandmother, and aunt were good cooks. My mother was into decoration and presentation before it was popular my birthday parties had decorated sandwich loafs, and pinwheel finger sandwiches.
My next door neighbor, Rose Maraglio, was from Italy and taught us a lot. We learned to make pizza before there was a heading in the Chicago phone book for pizza.
As an adult, my first hotel "accounts" party where the chefs but on the best of the best was a real eye opener. That is when I started working with chefs.
I wrote incentive programs and always talked with the chef. From 2002 to 2006 I interviewed chefs in the Carolinas for Time Warner Cable for a TV show and web
column.
Brenda and I met Master French Chef Herve Laurent while he was teaching at Le Cordon Bleu in the late 90's and became friends. I've learned a great deal from him and value his friendship.
In 2009, attending Bocuse d'Or, was a food lovers dream and a chef's utopia. I'm hooked and love all aspects from the simple to the complex. I understand the passion it takes to be a great chef and returned in 2011, 13 and 15. Now Herve comes and visits and cooks in my home. It is lovely.