A born and raised Pensacola local, MariCarmen Josephs is the chef & owner of the popular downtown restaurant Carmen’s Lunch Bar. She graduated from B.T. Washington High School before attending the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she received Bachelor’s degrees in Journalism and Spanish. After college MariCarmen, followed in her mother’s footsteps and began her culinary career. She and her mother Juliet DeMarko, an established caterer, cooked side by side at their restaurant Juliet’s World Café for almost 4 years. Her passion for food and wine led to management & chef positions at Artesana Fine Wines, 600 South and The Wine Bar. Her travels, especially to Spain, have influenced her cooking style and her desire to bring a little piece of Europe to her hometown. In March 2012, MariCarmen won the Pensacola Business Challenge helping her realize her dream of opening Carmen’s Lunch Bar. Last month marked 6 years of business, and Carmen’s continues to thrive in the heart of an ever-growing Pensacola.