Our Chefs
Chef Melissa
Melissa is a fourth-generation Alachua farmer, Florida native, and school teacher who took a leap of faith in 2024 and decided to try something completely new. After seeing a hiring post from The Fat Tuscan, she applied with hopes of becoming one of our class assistants. Over the following months, Melissa immersed herself in developing her culinary skills and soon began teaching pasta-making classes at The Fat Tuscan.
Before long, Melissa stepped into the role of chef instructor, bringing the same warmth & enthusiasm from the classroom into our kitchen. Since then, she has joined us on our Tuscany Food & Wine Tour, and in a full-circle moment, found herself strolling the streets of Rome exactly one year after deciding to leave the education sector.
Melissa loves creating a welcoming, intimate atmosphere where students feel comfortable learning, connecting, and building new friendships. She believes some of the best conversations happen around a table creating dishes with love, and she takes pride in helping foster those moments within our community.
When she’s not teaching, you’ll likely find Melissa camping with her three sons, tackling a DIY project at home, or out dancing with her friends.
Chef Tracy
Tracy Faircloth is a passionate home baker and Fat Tuscan instructor who loves making bread approachable, fun, and something anyone can feel confident creating. With a focus on simple techniques and hands-on learning, she helps students build confidence and enjoy the process as much as the final product. When she’s not in the kitchen, Tracy is likely at CrossFit or in the gym – because that dough isn’t going to knead itself – chasing the sunshine, hiking in the North GA mountains, or planning her next adventure with her family and dog, Stella.