Born in Freetown, Sierra Leone, she developed her love for cooking at the age of nine, learning from her mother and grandmother. After moving to Kent, Maria trained at Leiths School of Food and Wine before launching her own catering business, Maria Bradford Kitchen, in 2017, now known as Shwen Shwen. Maria’s work has been widely recognised for its innovative approach to Sierra Leonean cuisine, and she is a leading advocate for West African culinary heritage. Maria’s recent accolades include authoring her debut cookbook Sweet Salone, judging at the Fortnum & Mason Food and Drink Awards and being celebrated at the Be Inclusive Hospitality Awards (African chef of the year), further cementing her influence within the UK’s culinary landscape.