Maria Speck is a veteran journalist and the award-winning author of Ancient Grains for Modern Meals and Simply Ancient Grains (published by Ten Speed). She worked for Germany s largest news agency, DPA, before coming to the United States on a Knight Fellowship in the Journalism Department at Stanford University. Simply Ancient Grains was selected as a top cookbook for 2015 by the Washington Post, the Huffington Post, and Sweet Paul, as well as on NPR s Here & Now. Maria s first cookbook, Ancient Grains for Modern Meals, won multiple awards, among them the coveted Julia Child Award and the Health and Special Diet award from the International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP) as well as a Gourmand Award. Both the New York Times and the Washington Post named Simply Ancient Grains a top cookbook, and Cooking Light magazine included it as one of the 100 best cookbooks of the past 25 years. Maria has been interviewed on Martha Stewart Living Radio, Jamie Oliver s website, The Kojo Nnamdi Show, The Leonard Lopate Show (WNYC), Wisconsin Public Radio, the Boston Globe, Epicurious.com, and TakePart.com. Her hometown of Cambridge, MA has recognized her work with an honorable mention as a Food Hero. Raised in Greece and Germany, Maria has a lifelong passion for whole grains. She is a veteran journalist and food writer, and has contributed to Gourmet, Eating Well, Saveur, and Gastronomica, among many other publications.