Maria G.

Maria grew up in Toronto and worked in the fitness industry for over a decade. After the pandemic allowed her to pivot careers, she fell back in love with baking and joined the Eataly team to follow her true passion.

In 2023, Maria started as a Pastry Cook at Eataly Sherway Gardens. After being promoted to Pastry Lead in 2024, Maria became an even more impressive leader. She has since earned another promotion, now heading the team at Sherway Gardens as Pastry Sous Chef.

Prioritizing mentorship, Maria has built a positive and supportive environment in the pastry kitchen. Her and her team’s achievements are a testament to her professionalism and commitment to ensuring the department’s success.  Her team describes her as reliable, calm under pressure, and an inspiration to the whole kitchen.

What has been your favorite memory at Eataly so far? 
“The two promotions I’ve gotten were very special. It’s very nice to be recognized and knowing and that hard work is an asset and is seen. Before Eataly, I always worked for myself and never had the chance to be promoted. Now that I’m here and working with a team, it is a really good feeling being seen.”

What is your favorite part of your job?
“I like that it taps into the part of my personality that loves being organized and four steps ahead. I like that challenge, I’m always ‘on,’ and it works well for me. I’ve made it my own, and it works really well for this position.”

What have you learned since you joined Eataly?
“I used to take everything so seriously and then learned that you’ve got to pick your battles and scale back. I’ve gotten a lot calmer as well, and this new mentality has really changed me for the better.”

What do you enjoy doing outside of Eataly?
“I’ve played soccer since I was eight and really miss it. Maybe I’ll start again. I’m a beginner gardener, too!”

Here is Maria in action!