Episode Details

Melissa Weller is an acclaimed baker, pastry chef, and cookbook author with over two decades of experience. Before pursuing her passion for baking, she worked as an engineer, but at 30, she pivoted careers by enrolling at the French Culinary Institute (now the Institute for Culinary Education). Since then, Melissa has built an impressive career in some of the country's most esteemed kitchens, including Babbo, Sullivan Street Bakery, Per Se, Bouchon Bakery, and Roberta's. She was the founding baker at Sadelle's and later served as the head baker at Walnut Street Café in Philadelphia and a chef-partner at High Street on Hudson, where she further cemented her reputation as a leader in the industry. Her expertise and dedication earned her a James Beard Award nomination for Outstanding Baker in 2016, and in November 2020, she published her first cookbook, A Good Bake (Knopf), sharing her deep knowledge and passion for the craft. In 2024, Melissa partnered with 55 Hospitality to spearhead the opening of Bub's Bakery (opened September 2025), an innovative allergen-free concept, expanding her influence in the baking world while championing inclusivity in pastry. Melissa's career spans New York City, Philadelphia, and the Eastern Shore of Maryland, where she continues to explore the art and science of baking. Driven by a love of learning and sharing knowledge, she remains a respected voice in the culinary world.

Instagram: @melissafunkweller or @bubsbakerynyc
Websites: Melissabakesbread.com or bubsbakery.com

In this episode we discuss:

•  What prompted Melissa to pivot from a career in chemical engineering to professional baking
•  What she learned from mentors at Babbo, Sullivan Street Bakery and Per Se, among others
•  Juggling her role as a mother with baking at Roberta's in Brooklyn
•  Becoming an entrepreneur – opening a bagel stand at the market
•  Opening Sadelle's – where Melissa brought her pastries to a new level
•  Becoming an author: writing A Good Bake and Very Good Bread
•  Opening Bub's Bakery, an allergen-free bakery
•  And much more!