Shawanda Marie infuses elements of theater performance, storytelling, visual art, education, cultural exploration, and music with culinary art!

Born and raised in New Orleans, Shawanda is a proud Creole woman who’s documented family roots in Louisiana span back to the early 1700s. Food historian, Michael Twitty calls her a cheftivist because of her cultural activism and passion for cooking Creole cuisine. Shawanda Marie is a Culinary Storyteller who invites guests to partake in a slice of New Orleans history and culture through traditional Creole dining experiences. She has been a four-time guest chef on Daytime Blue Ridge in Roanoke, Virginia and one of her recipes was featured in Michael Twitty’s acclaimed cookbook, Rice. Shawanda presents workshops and presentations for public audiences and is also a cultural consultant for Crescent City Monsters comic book series.