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Melissa Novak

Teaches at The Chopping Block at the Mart

Favorite class to teach:
Date nights!

Training/education:

Pennsylvania Culinary Institute

Cooking since:
Does cooking with my mom count?

Favorite childhood food experience:
Making my first meatloaf with my mom

What made you want to become a chef?
I wasn't allowed to play with my food when I was growing up and now I get paid to do it!

What is your signature dish?
I make so many things that I really can't say I have one signature dish, but I do make a lot of cookies with my niece!

What are the 5 ingredients you can't live without?
Sriracha, butter, cheese (all of them), vegetables, garlic

What do you love about cooking?
Getting to play with my food!

When you're creating a new recipe, what influences and inspires you?

It all depends on where and what I'm doing, I take my inspiration from everywhere

What advice would you give a new cook?
Make as many mistakes as you can now and experiment with everything that you can!

What are you doing when you're not cooking?
Reading, knitting, taking the dog on adventures, cooking with friends

Describe your perfect evening.
Someone else cooking for me

If you had friends in from out of town, where would you take them to eat?
Avec, Frontera Grill, Dragon Ranch, Slurping Turtle

Where are you from?
Cleveland, Ohio

What was your favorite vacation?
Visiting an old roommate in London and friends in Paris

What is your favorite band?
It changes all the time, but right now I'm really into Pink's new album

What is your favorite sports team?
My heart always roots for the Browns, winning or losing

If you could have dinner with one person, who would it be?
Pierre Hermé

What are your guilty pleasures?
Playing drunk Scrabble with friends

Who is your favorite celebrity chef?
Julia Child

What 5 tools should every new cook have in the kitchen?
A very sharp chef knife, a sharp serrated knife, Microplane grater, one good non-stick frying pan, a solid wood cutting board

What resources would you suggest for Chopping Block clients?
Our staff is so expansive with everyone having such varied backgrounds that I would say question the chefs as much as you can with what ever questions that you can think of.

List/describe three of your favorite tips or techniques you use in the kitchen.
I've spent the last 10 years working as a pastry chef so my absolute favorite technique is rolling laminated doughs by hand!

Reviews of Melissa Novak

(1 Review)
  • Raw Bar and Bubbles

    Reviewed by Cicely H. on 1/7/2017
    I really enjoyed myself! Chef Melissa was very welcoming and informative. The food was delicious!

Classes taught by Melissa Novak

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