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Melanie Underwood

Founder

"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, we strive to create a culture of belonging."

For three decades, Melanie Underwood has been creating transformative experiences that bring people together through food, sound, and mindfulness. Her unique gift lies in making meaningful connection accessible and joyful—whether in the kitchen, around a table, or in a sound bath meditation.

Melanie's journey began on her family farm in Loudoun County, Virginia, where nightly meals were more than just eating—they were moments of storytelling, laughter, and belonging. Taught to bake by intuition from her grandmother and to appreciate food's deeper meaning from her grandfather, Melanie's approach has been shaped by this foundation: food as a vehicle for community, care, and conversation.

With over 50,000 students taught throughout her career—including 24 years as a cornerstone instructor at the Institute of Culinary Education in New York City—Melanie's intuitive, confidence-building approach has made her one of the most respected educators in her field. She began her professional journey working in bakeries before apprenticing in Washington, D.C., and later moving to New York City, where she opened The Four Seasons Hotel and worked in renowned establishments like The Plaza Hotel and Torre di Pisa.

Today, as founder of Nourish and Gather, she creates multidimensional experiences that foster connection through culinary arts, sound healing, meditation, and thoughtfully designed products like her Conversation Napkins—designed to bring back the lost art of meaningful dialogue at the table.

A certified mindfulness instructor with training from the Oxford Mindfulness Institute, Mindful Leader, The Interdependence Project, and Yoga Haven (with specialty training in teaching children), Melanie brings a unique holistic approach to everything she creates.

Her work has been featured on Food Network, ABC, NBC, CNN, and through collaborations with Microsoft, Rodale Books, Ziploc, and more. She's the author of Making Artisan Cheesecake (an Amazon Editor's Pick) and has co-authored several other cookbooks.

Melanie is also the creator of TART AF (Always Fun, Always Fabulous)—a bold, irreverent brand and upcoming podcast creating space for smart, confident women to discuss aging, ambition, creativity, health and more—without apology or filter.

At her core, Melanie believes that food is a language of care, gathering is an act of love, and the table is where people return to themselves and to each other. Whether leading a cooking class, facilitating a sound bath, or hosting conversations around the table, she creates experiences that leave people feeling nourished, grounded, and inspired to connect.

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