Melissa Terrell Gloria Pépin Memorial Grant Video

Melissa Terrell is a CKP graduate and owner of Tug Butter LLC, which specializes in apple butter based bakery products. During the pandemic her youngest son was diagnosed with autism. Doctors told her that he would struggle to learn how to read and write, so she took matters into her own hands; left her career in social work and started a new journey.

In an attempt to teach her son how to read and write, Melissa started teaching her son old family recipes and using cooking as a way to learn. As things progressed, she realized that she would need to take her culinary skills to the next level and that brought her to Community Kitchen Pittsburgh where her love and passion for all things culinary were able to thrive. During her time as a student, she was a natural leader who consistently inspired her classmates to strive for excellence.

After graduating from the program, she continued this new career opportunity and accepted a job as a kitchen manager, eventually leading to her starting her own business, Tug Butter LLC.

Melissa’s commitment to the culinary arts extends beyond her professional career. She is a devoted community activist who uses her love of gardening to introduce children in her neighborhood to the pleasures of fresh produce and how to prepare them. Her passion for teaching others how to cook healthy, delicious meals is infectious and has inspired countless individuals to pursue their own culinary dreams.

Below you can hear from her about the journey she has been on and where she plans to go next!