The Interview —

Marie Saba, Cookbook Author and Content Creator

I’ve been passionate about food and cooking since I was a kid. When I was 10 years old, my older brother, Jim, and I created a cooking show called “Kids Cooking!” Jim filmed, and I hosted. I made kid-friendly food from an old Betty Crocker cookbook, and although it was very unsophisticated, people enjoyed it! The show aired on our local public access channel in Austin for over a decade, and it even got a feature on Good Morning America. So I’ve been playing around in the kitchen since then.

The food art started about four or five years ago. I was a stay-at-home mom for our kids (2 and 5 at the time), and we were always looking for something fun to do. So we played with ingredients like art supplies and eventually started sharing our creations on Instagram. The first few were a mess, but then we made some that were really magical. As far as the celebrity portraits, I think a follower asked me to make Ellen DeGeneres. She turned out well, and after that, the requests for famous faces just kept coming in!

At first, I thought it was a joke! Yes, I was totally nervous. I remember working on it late into the evening one night, and my husband kept joking that I needed to “lighten up” about it. Easy for him to say. ;) 

It’s easier than you think! Come to one of my classes, and we’ll make a chef out of you in no time. 

My biggest inspiration is my mama. Wherever she is in life, she savors it. When I used to complain about the kids waking me up at 6:00 a.m. on weekends, she’d respond, “But they’re waking you up to life!” I love her outlook.

White balsamic vinegar, All-Clad pots and pans, a cast iron pan, convection oven, white platters and bowls for serving, a good knife, cutting boards of various sizes, and most importantly, music, wine, and family or friends. :) 

My favorite restaurant is Clark’s Oyster Bar. I love the quaint atmosphere and delicious food. I also recommend Fabi & Rosi (date night with German-European cuisine), Taco Deli (casually hip spot for some of the best tacos in town), Sway Thai (their Tom Kha Gai is my favorite soup in town), and Loro (sit at the bar and order whatever the bartender suggests). 

For busy weeknights, I love a quick bolognese sauce made with grass-fed ground beef and a jar of Organic Bello Marinara Sauce. The kids put it on pasta, and my husband and I usually have it on zucchini noodles. 

That’s an impossible question! I adore these crab cakes, but how could I survive without roasted veggies? Or chocolate? Or french fries?

I have a few projects I’m really excited about this year, most involving my food puns. First up is a line of kitchen supplies with my food puns printed on them. We’ve worked so hard on these and can’t wait to see them in stores! I’m also working on a coffee table book of my food puns. The puns have been so fun to share on social media—we can’t wait to compile them into a book! And although it’s probably a long shot, we’re pitching a few different cooking shows to networks, so we’ll see how that goes. In the meantime, visit me on YouTube—I’m starting a new channel with all my favorite recipes!