Melissa Weller

MELISSA WELLER received a James Beard Award nomination for Outstanding Baker in 2016. A French Culinary Institute graduate, she trained at Babbo and Sullivan Street Bakery in New York City. She was chef-partner at High Street on Hudson; head baker at Per Se, Bouchon Bakery, and Roberta’s; an owner and founder of Sadelle’s; and the head baker at Walnut Street Café in Philadelphia. Melissa was born and raised in Central Pennsylvania, and now lives in Brooklyn, New York. She graduated from Bucknell University with degrees in chemical engineering and international relations and worked as an engineer for ten years before switching her career to baking. Her first cookbook, A Good Bake, published by Knopf, debuted in November 2020, and her second cookbook, Very Good Bread, also published by Knopf, debuted in November 2024.