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Melanie Underwood

The Pastry Chef Who HATES Cheesecake — 50 Tastes of Gray

Writer: Melanie Underwood
Melanie Underwood
18 minutes ago
1 min read

FEATURED ON 50 TASTES OF GRAY


October 30, 2026 • 26-minute episode


Host Matthew Gray speaks with Melanie Underwood about her years in professional pastry kitchens, culinary education, mindfulness, and learning to trust your own judgment in the kitchen.


From pastry kitchens to culinary education


Melanie discusses her route into professional pastry kitchens, including the determination that led to an apprenticeship and her work at the Four Seasons and the Plaza. The conversation also revisits her years teaching at the Institute of Culinary Education.


Trusting yourself in the kitchen


Matthew and Melanie explore why students can become afraid to make decisions, how cooking builds judgment, and why the right tools do not have to mean a kitchen full of gadgets.


Cheesecake, Tart AF and a little irreverence


The episode gets into the contradiction behind Making Artisan Cheesecake, a simple quark cheesecake, the origins of Tart AF, and the pleasure of cooking without apologizing for your personality.


Food as connection


Their conversation returns to food as a shared language, from dumplings across cultures to everyday cooking at home. Melanie’s culinary and mindfulness teaching meet in the idea that people can learn to pay attention, trust their senses and connect over food.



50 TASTES OF GRAY • THE PASTRY CHEF WHO HATES CHEESECAKE • Culinary education, confidence and connection

 
 
 

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