Meet Maria Morris | Executive Director & Chef

We had the good fortune of connecting with Maria Morris and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Maria, maybe we can start at the very start – the idea – how did you come up with the idea for your business?
I started Carabelle’s after my 2-year-old daughter passed away in a house fire in 2018. After experiencing homelessness, addiction, and incarceration, I entered into recovery and began building my business. I started catering for local nonprofits and government officials, and have also been a part of an accelerator program that helps launch food businesses. I’ve been a featured chef for the PGA KitchenAid Fairway club in 2021, and I’ve been blessed to share my story of triumph, overcoming, and hope. My purpose is to inspire, cultivate and showcase culinary prowess in justice-impacted women.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a mentor with lived experiences to other women like me, who have been in hopeless situations but continue to get back up and carry on for their future. Nothing that I have gone through is easy, I am still healing. but I have seen God use all of it. Maybe not in the moment, but the brokenness, unfairness, darkness, and grief that I have felt have been someone else’s road map to light. There is no way I could look at my life and say, I got through that alone. God’s hand was on it and still is. I overcome challenges by offering myself and others grace. It is easy to be a perfectionist about every little detail and to find fault in everything, but at the end of the day, the world doesn’t end. It keeps turning and we get another chance to get it right.

I am also a chef and caterer, who has created a space for women to come and find culinary training, employment, and support for their own professional growth.

I want people to know that we all have made mistakes. But we’re capable of learning and growth. We may need extra support, support that we’ve never gotten before. But when we surround each other with love and we are willing to offer understanding instead of canceling and throwing others away, we are all better off for it. We plant a seed of hope.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I love the Gathering Place. There is so much to do there! I love walking around downtown and admiring the architecture. Nola’s on Cherry Street has great food and mocktails! I really love going anywhere with clear blue water, like the Illinois river. I would take a friend out into nature and away from the regular hustle of life

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My family, especially My mom, has always stood by me through all my mess and fought tirelessly for a better life for me. My recovery and diversion program Just The Beginning, without their support, I would not only be serving 18 years in prison, but I would not have the direction and empowerment to pursue my purpose.
My Stand in the Gap family Miss Rhonda, Shannon, Megan, and Deann for walking with me during my recovery and beyond.
My best friend Brittany, she’s always looking out for me, she was the first person to tell my story in a positive light, and she continues to be such a Rockstar in everything she does.
My fiancé Tyler, he’s so supportive and wise on so many things. We have a beautiful daughter together Sunseria, and they are my world.
All of our community partners, especially Highland Park Christian Church for allowing us to use their kitchen facilities, because that’s where so the magic happens! I hope that’s everyone! My whole journey has had so much support and I am grateful

Website: www.carabelleseatsandtreats.com

Instagram: instagram.com/carabelleseats

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/maria-at-carabelles

Facebook: facebook.com/carabelleseatsandtreats