Melissa Manske - Recipe for Success

Melissa Manske

Chef Manske began her hospitality and cooking career at Texas Christian University as a computer science major. After one nutrition class, she was hooked on the food industry. Through college, she worked part-time cooking for a local church and at a catering company. She worked for Hilton Hotels for one year before enrolling at the University of Houston for her masters. She has since worked with the Wine and Spirits Management Institute and the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. After a 3 year stint with Morrison Management Specialists as a retail marketing manager, Melissa moved to Napa Valley to pursue a culinary career at the Culinary Institute of America. After graduation from the CIA, Chef Manske moved back to Texas where she worked with the Beaumont Country Club as both a pastry and banquet chef. Currently, Melissa teaches at the Art Institute. She also teaches with the Chef Training Program at the Guthrie Center with Spring Branch ISD.

2018 Chef of the Year
Kevin Naderi, Roost

Chefs Advisory Board

Beginning in the late 1990's Chef Monica Pope joined in Gracie's efforts to establish a group of concerned chefs who were willing to get involved in a hands on way to teach kids to cook. Twenty-four answered the call and in 2006, we established our Chefs Advisory Board, a working committee with Monica as its Chair. Through the years, more and more chefs have joined our founding members, and today we have over 100 members in Houston and across the country. Monica Pope continues to lead the team as Chair Emeritus.

These busy professionals donate their time month after month, year after year, bringing their unique insight and perspective of food to the children, turning on their taste buds and opening their minds to new foods. It's a Recipe for Success! Would you like to join us? Get in touch and get started today!

The Foundation's Chefs Advisory Board served as inspiration for the White House campaign for Chefs Move to School! Six members of our Chefs Advisory Board joined members of our Board of Directors at the White House in June 2010 for the kick-off of Chefs Move to Schools! where Recipe for Success was featured as a national model and resource. See pictures here. And read about the trip here and here.