Melissa M. Martin is a New Orleans chef and restaurant owner. She has written two books, ''Mosquito Supper Club'' and ''Bayou.''

Early life

Martin grew up in

Chauvin, Louisiana Chauvin is a census-designated place (CDP) in Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 2,575 in 2020.. It is part of the Houma– Bayou Cane– Thibodaux metropolitan statistical area. Geography Chauvin is located at (2 ...

where she was one of six kids in her family.

Career

In 2014 Martin started preparing food in pop up locations in Louisiana. During this period Martin charged a flat fee and people came in to eat, listen to music, and interact with other diners. In 2016 she opened a restaurant in New Orleans, the Mosquito Supper. The restaurant that provides a tasting menu of home-style food, which ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...

'' named as one of the best restaurants in New Orleans in 2023. In 2020 Martin changed how her restaurant served meals in response to limitations imposed by the city of New Orleans during the

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...

. In her writing Martin shares stories of food and cooking, recipes, and details on the challenges for the community that lives in coastal Louisiana.

Selected publications

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Awards and honors

In 2022 and 2023 Martin was a semifinalist south region as best chef for the

James Beard Foundation Award The James Beard Foundation Awards are annual awards presented by the James Beard Foundation to recognize chefs, restaurateurs, authors and journalists in the United States. They are scheduled around James Beard's May 5 birthday. The media awar ...

. Her 2022 cookbook received the James Beard Award for best new cookbook the category of U.S. roadways.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Martin, Melissa Living people People from Louisiana American women writers American cookbook writers American chefs American women chefs