Melanie Underwood is a certified culinary educator, certified mindfulness instructor, author, and founder of Nourish & Gather and co-founder of TART AF. With nearly 30 years of teaching experience and more than 50,000 students taught, she believes that nourishment goes far beyond the plate.

Melanie Underwood is a certified culinary educator, certified mindfulness instructor, author, and founder of Nourish & Gather and co-founder of TART AF. With nearly 30 years of teaching experience and more than 50,000 students taught, she believes that nourishment goes far beyond the plate.
Her career has taken her from the kitchens of the Four Seasons and Plaza Hotel to classrooms, corporate events, and mindfulness experiences. Through food, mindfulness, and storytelling, she encourages people to think critically, trust their instincts, challenge expectations, and connect more deeply with themselves and others.
Melanie is the author of Making Artisan Cheesecake and brings a unique perspective to conversations about confidence, creativity, human connection, education, personal growth, and finding purpose. Her own experience advocating for herself through a rare lung cancer diagnosis has further deepened her commitment to helping others find and use their voices.