Chef Melissa Cottingham

Melissa Cottingham has had a passion for culinary arts since she was knee high to a grasshopper. Raised in Memphis, Tennessee, she began cooking at twelve alongside her mother Beverly Cottingham. Melissa took her talents to Los Angeles, CA, where she worked in TV, film and commercials, before deciding to pursue culinary arts. She currently is the Owner & CEO of the pop up restaurant, Melnificent Wingz, a mixture of traditional and gourmet style chicken wings in Los Angeles, CA.

After finding her late mother, Beverly Cottingham, cookbooks and hand-written recipes, Melissa knew that she had to get back to her first love, so she took a closer look at pursuing her passion for cooking. Dedicated to learning everything about her craft, in spring of 2015, while still working in production, she enrolled in night culinary classes at The New School of Cooking. While there, Cottingham was selected to lead her classmates for the graduation lunch; she assisted various chefs with their demos, and her photo is still used in promotional materials for the annual Women’s Chef & Restaurateur event hosted by the school.

Enthusiastic about cultural cuisines, she believes that the best way to learn about a culture is to join them in their kitchen. Melissa has been featured on the Complex Magazine show “Good Looking Out,” with Hosts: Ray J and Natasha Martinez. She has graced the palates of Kym Whitley, Tracee Ellis Ross, Marsai Martin, Larenz Tate, Anthony Anderson, Shaunie O’Neal, Jenifer Lewis, Shangela, KevOnStage and many more.

When she’s not at a culinary event or testing cultural spices, Melissa enjoys spending time with family and friends, volunteering her time to mentor youth at the Extraordinary Families Foster Care & Adoption Foundation, and finding the best chicken wing place worldwide. With a smile and personality that can’t help but charm you, Melissa’s courageous story of triumph, strength, and love is the drive behind her passion for cooking. Her greatest pleasure will always be bringing people together over comfort food.