A vegetarian for the past 10 years, Marie loves to get her culinary juices flowing and create amazing dishes using flavorful, just-picked ingredients and local and organic produce in imaginative and unexpected new ways. She sees food as a celebration of health, joy, and, yes, romance. "You are what you eat," she says. (And to prove her point, well, just look at her!!)

Marie's love affair with food began when she was growing up in her native Tel Aviv, cooking for herself and developing an affinity for food preparation and its relation to a healthy lifestyle. She trained in Europe and made her way to the United States, where she established her career as a personal chef to a list of clients that included celebrities and ambassadors.

Marie has always combined her passion for food with a concern for animal welfare, and in 2010 she was voted the Female Winner of PETA's Competition "Sexiest Vegetarian Next Door," winning the title over more than 1000 hopefuls who submitted their profiles on the website. Marie accepted the honor with pleasure and now makes national appearances on behalf of animal rights, (although she donated her title prize of a trip for two to Hawaii back to PETA to be auctioned off for their benefit.) An avid pet owner and dog trainer, Marie and her pug puppy HazelNut are popular participants at animal-rescue events. (HazelNut has a great taste in fashion and, inspired by Marie, she's a hot dish herself!)

With her latest venture, a website and cooking show called "Too Cute to Cook," Marie gets to "cook and tell," putting her own savory slant on the traditional joys of cooking and entertaining. It's all about simple but good, pleasurable but not extravagant, wholesome yet enticing. "My passions in life are people and food," Marie says. Sounds like a perfect recipe!