Nourish & Gather
Hands-On Cooking Classes & Culinary Experiences
Creating connection around the table for families, corporate teams, and professional educators.
Nourishment Goes Beyond The Plate
Featured Programs
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About Us
Our Philosophy
At Nourish and Gather, hands-on cooking is simply the vehicle. The real ingredients? Connection, creativity, and presence. Every experience is 100% hands-on and deliberately kept intimate - limited to just 6 adults or 8 children per session. This small group setting ensures a safe, focused environment where you leave not just with practical skills and approachable recipes, but with a genuine sense of kitchen confidence.
Around the table, curiosity naturally sparks conversation.
Conversation builds connection.
Connection becomes community.
From My Kitchen Table to Your Community
The kitchen table was the heart of my family. Nourish and Gather emerged from cherished memories of my grandparents’ home, where nightly meals were filled with storytelling, music, and true belonging. Those evenings taught me that cooking isn't just about the food on the plate; it’s about the human connection it creates.
For over 30 years, I have brought that same magic to the world.
My culinary journey has taken me from working as an NYC pastry chef to serving as the official Chef in Residence for Cookies for Kids’ Cancer. I don't just teach recipes—I design intentional spaces where people feel safe to learn, create, and grow.
Over 50,000 students have built kitchen confidence under my guidance.
My approach to culinary education is deeply rooted in real-world expertise, including:
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25 Years as an Instructor at the prestigious Institute of Culinary Education (ICE) in NYC.
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5 Official Proclamations from the City of Rye recognizing my programs' profound community impact.
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Intimate, Intentionally Small Classes strictly limited to 6 adults or 8 children to ensure highly personal, expert mentorship.
Today, we invite you to take your seat at the table. Whether you are looking for an unforgettable corporate team-building event, transformative professional development for your educators, or an enriching camp for your child, Nourish and Gather is here to welcome you.
Reach out today - I’d love to hear your story and welcome you into our space
With love,
Melanie
My son overcame his fear of the stove, I overcame my fear of kids using sharp knives, and now they’re eager to recreate the recipes at home.
My teens and their friends had an incredible week-long cooking class with Melanie at Nourish and Gather. Each day they were excited to return, gathering fresh produce from her garden... Melanie’s warm, welcoming kitchen was filled with music, laughter, and learning. We can’t wait for more classes with her!
Melanie had just the right balance of teaching but remaining hands off so the kids can do for themselves and gain confidence in the meantime. My 12-year-old had her birthday party with Chef Melanie and a bunch of girlfriends. They had the best time and left feeling empowered because they cooked from scratch and reaped the rewards by enjoying the best pasta and cupcakes. Can’t wait for the next birthday party!
He was very proud of himself and asked to help me make dinner last night... he showed me the new knife skills he had learned... Very impressive!
I sent my 11-year-old son to the 3-hour American Classics course and he loved it. After he made the taco meat, he showed me the new knife skills he had learned by chopping up some tomato and cucumber. I definitely want him to take another class to continue to build his culinary skills and his kitchen confidence!
Attendees not only enjoyed the class and the chance to meet new colleagues but all commented on how lovely Melanie was in her teaching and presence.
We worked with Melanie on two virtual cooking holiday gatherings for a corporate client. Communication was great throughout the organizing process. A detailed ingredients list was provided... I hope we can do this again!
