News

UA-PTC and LRCVB to host chef/blogger Jan. 30

Chef Melissa Pelkey-Hass will pay a visit to The UA - Pulaski Tech Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management Institute (CAHMI) Celebrity Chef Theatre, 13000 I-30 in Little Rock, Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2 – 3 p.m. The public is invited to join UA-PTC students as Melissa shares her passion for cooking, her career experiences, highlights along her journey, professional insights, some growing culinary trends and more.

Visit Melissa at www.thefrontporchgourmet.com, and follow her on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Hass is on an Arkansas press trip hosted by the Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau (LRCVB), Visit Bentonville and the Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism. In 2018, Little Rock, Bentonville and state representatives attended the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival taking with them several Arkansas restaurateurs. The Savor Arkansas team showcased the state’s rising food and beverage scene at a public ‘Destination Delicious’ tasting event, and at a ‘Connoisseur Breakfast: The Arkansas Way!’ media breakfast. As a result, several journalists, bloggers and social media influencers have been invited to Arkansas, and they’ve experienced The Natural State for themselves and shared their experiences with their audiences, elevating the state’s profile as a culinary destination.

Melissa grew up in rural South Carolina and was born with a whisk in her hand. Over the years, her love for cooking and competition has been carefully crafted into an award-winning obsession. She uses her culinary skills to compete in cooking and recipe competitions locally and nationwide. Her craft has earned over 320 State Fair Blue Ribbons, 160 Red Ribbons and titles of Spam Champion, Fleishman’s Yeast Baking Champion, Hidden Valley Ranch Recipe Winner, and the Chicago Cutlery’s “The Cut” Sandwich National Grand Champion to name a few.

Melissa has had over 200 recipes published in national publications such as “Taste of Home”, “Southern Living”, Epicurious.com and “Healthy Cooking” books and magazines. She created The Front Porch Gourmet to give her friends, family and readers a place to talk food, feel at home and share a little Southern humor. She likes to share all types of recipes from Mama’s Southern Fried Chicken to an elaborate Beef Wellington.

Melissa is a devoted wife to her husband Keith and together they have raised 3 amazing kids, are completely enamored with their six grandchildren and are servants to “Princess Onyx”, the Great Dane. When asked why she feels the need to share her passion for cooking with others, she simply replies, “Ya know, life is too short to eat ugly food.”