“The most striking aspect of this pop-up restaurant, however, might be its chef. At 20 years old, Trevor Shankman moves with a rhythmic elegance in the kitchen far beyond his years. He may be running one of metro Atlanta’s most exclusive supper clubs, too, where those in attendance are not only dining on thought-provoking food, but witnessing the beginning of a chef’s career.”
- Eater Atlanta
Welcome to Maria, the “culinary brainchild” and creative expression of 21-year-old chef, Trevor Shankman.
Maria is named after Trevor’s abuela (grandmother), “Aya.” Aya was born in Cuba during the early 1960’s and fled to the U.S. at just 4-years-old, alongside her family, who had nothing to their names other than the clothes on their backs and a dream for a better life.
Trevor’s life was impacted profoundly by Aya, as she acted as a second mother to him in his most formative years. A spirit of unrelenting strength, robustness, and unconditional love, committed endlessly to those closest to her.
Unfortunately, Aya is no longer with us, as just over one year ago, she unfortunately lost her life to a long-fought battle with colon cancer.
Maria is Trevor’s creative expression of all that she meant to him; each dish, inextricably linked to a cherished, childhood memory of his, with his Abuela.
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“Supper club Maria embraces a relaxed charm within a home on a cul-de-sac in Kennesaw, 25 miles northwest of Atlanta. While a soundtrack of classic rock plays in the background, two communal tables set the scene, helping foster connections over food, with conversations between a small gathering of strangers leading to shared memories and laughter. The most striking aspect of this pop-up restaurant, however, might be its chef. At 20 years old, Trevor Shankman moves with a rhythmic elegance in the kitchen far beyond his years. He may be running one of metro Atlanta’s most exclusive supper clubs, too, where those in attendance are not only dining on thought-provoking food, but witnessing the beginning of a chef’s career.”
- Eater Atlanta
“At Just 20, This Young Chef May Run One of Metro Atlanta’s Most Exclusive Supper Clubs.”
-Eater Atlanta
“Trevor Shankman’s supper club, Maria, lures diners to a Kennesaw subdivision, where they feast on eight-course menus. Only 8 to 12 guests can attend at a time, and Shankman typically hosts two dinners per weekend… The 21-year-old was inspired to start his own series after losing his maternal grandmother, Maria Delgado, last June…”
- Atlanta Magazine
“The eight to nine-course Maria dinner, which occur several times throughout the month and sometimes sell out in a matter of hours, are hosted at his grandmother’s house in Kennesaw. Menys, are primary modern American and “agnostic to format or form with respect to staying central to a certain style of cooking… Dishes often pull in elements of French and Japanese cooking, as well as Cuban cuisine and dishes Maria cooked for Shankman when he was a child…”
- The Atlanta Journal Constitution (AJC)