Born in
Athens, Greece, Cushing moved to Canada with her family when she was one. Interested in cooking at a very young age, Cushing practiced cooking and baking as a child. Cushing graduated top of her class in the
Grand Diplôme program at the École de Cuisine La Varenne in Paris. She has worked at Four Seasons Hotels, Magna International, the King Ranch Health Spa, and Toronto's Scaramouche restaurant, as a pastry chef. She was a teacher at the Kitchen Studio, had her own cooking school, and created recipes for places such as
Gusto magazine, Starbucks, and Ace Bakery. Cushing has also performed food demonstrations for KitchenAid Canada, Northern Telecom, and the Heart and Stroke Foundation. She has spoken at the Cook for the Cure breast cancer campaign, was thought to be a superhero at Starbright Foundation for sick kids hospital, and is now a judge for the Gold Medal Plate annual fundraiser for the Olympic committee as well as an advocate of the Children's Breakfast Clubs. She has written three cookbooks and has a line of artisan food products: extra virgin olive oil from Greece, tomato sauces handmade in Canada, and roasted red pepper spreads. ==TV appearances==