Melissa Samuels

Speaker + Business Consultant + Teacher

Melissa grew up in a small town in Minnesota, always knowing she wanted to cook professionally.  Her memories are filled with being outside creating "mud cakes" and “sand pies” with a little sprinkle of sugar and flour from the kitchen. She even picked dandelions from the garden to add as garnish, knowing the importance of presentation from a very young age. To pursue her dreams, she headed to New York for culinary school where she met her husband, Thomas. After graduation from the Culinary Institute of America, and time spent in Las Vegas and San Francisco;  Melissa and Thomas spent 6 months in Europe learning and eating there way through the better part of the Mediterranean . Melissa soon after claimed New Orleans as home. After honing her craft as the Executive Pastry Chef at the Windsor Court Hotel, Melissa left to pursue her dream of owning her own business. Melissa’s Fine Pastries was born in 2008.  With each creation Melissa curated, she proved to her clients that they could both look great AND taste great! Her passion was fueled by the desire to be creative, and always loved the idea of designing something new for each event. Although a business novice, her “stop thinking, start doing” mentality propelled her to become one of the best known names in the New Orleans wedding industry. Her cakes have been featured in nationwide magazines such as Martha Stewart Weddings, People Weddings, Inside Weddings, The Knot, Geraldine Magazine, Style Me Pretty, Elegant Weddings, and Muna Luchi Bride, just to name a few. In 2017, Melissa’s Fine Pastries was listed as a finalist in Southern Weddings’ Best of the South awards.  Melissa’s intricate eye for design and passion for elite customer service allowed her business to bloom into the brand that is today. She is well versed in business development, client experience and breaking out as a high touch brand in a thriving industry. 

Through consulting, one on one coaching, and speaking engagements Melissa will share that passion that has filled her company over the years to all those wish for the same success. Our new mission is centered around entertaining and creating experiences across the board from clients to employees and anyone that surrounds her.