"Cooking breaks down barriers and brings us together. I’ve seen firsthand how learning to cook and bake not only connects people with themselves but also fosters community, builds confidence, and creates lasting bonds with friends and family. At Gather Culinary, we strive to create a culture of belonging."

Passionate and engaging, Melanie is dedicated to helping others cultivate confidence, creativity, curiosity, calm, and connection in the kitchen. With 28 years of experience as a culinary educator and a certified mindfulness instructor, she creates a welcoming environment where cooking becomes a joyful journey of discovery. Her approach to food and mindfulness goes beyond the kitchen, fostering acceptance, kindness, and meaningful connections.

Growing up on her family farm in Loudoun County, Virginia, Melanie’s enthusiasm for fresh, organic ingredients was shaped by her grandparents. Her grandmother, Eloise, taught her to bake with intuition and heart, while her grandfather, Charlie, instilled the value of community through shared meals, winter butchering, and summer canning. These early experiences rooted her lifelong connection to food, family, and tradition.

Melanie’s culinary journey took her from working in a bakery during high school to apprenticing in Washington, D.C., and eventually moving to New York City. There, she opened The Four Seasons Hotel and worked at iconic establishments like The Plaza Hotel and Torre di Pisa. However, it was in 1996 that she found her true calling—teaching. As an instructor at the Institute of Culinary Education for both professional and recreational programs, she inspired students until 2020.

She has made numerous television appearances on networks like TV Food Network, ABC, NBC, and CNN. Her client list includes notable names such as Rodale Books, Ziploc, Microsoft, and Planter’s Peanuts. In 2015, her book Making Artisan Cheesecake (Quarry Books ) was published, and she’s now working on her upcoming project, Rule Breaking Baking – Baking Without Recipes.

Through every recipe and every class, Melanie continues to cultivate a space where people feel safe, connected, and empowered—using food as the universal language of care and community.