Marianna was born and raised in Chania, Crete.  Growing up in the small neighbourhood of Halepa on the outskirts of the city, her father is a Cretan fishermand and her mother is Scottish.  She spent her childhood in the fields or by the water and was free to roam as she pleased.  Marianna's family ran a seafood restaurant where they spent most of their evenings together.  

Marianna rediscovered her love of food whilst travelling after university,  where she rekindled her passion of cooking and returned to Crete to work in a kitchen with her brother.  Wanting to expand her knowledge she travelled to London for a job in her favourite restaurant called Moro.  Starting as a waitress, she worked hard and persisted to enter the kitchen, eventually becoming the head chef.