Chef Melissa Carranza

Chef At Home in Baton Rouge

I was born and raised in Columbia, Missouri, and in 2021, I moved to Louisiana to deepen my culinary knowledge at Baton Rouge Community College. There, I had the opportunity to learn from seasoned chefs and earned second place in a local SkillsUSA competition—a proud moment that affirmed my passion for the craft.

Currently, I’m honing my skills as a line cook at Jubans Restaurant in Baton Rouge, where I continue to grow through hands-on experience in a fast-paced, high-standard kitchen environment. My culinary foundation is rooted in Mexican cuisine, shaped by my personal background, but I constantly challenge myself to explore new ingredients, flavors, and techniques.

Cooking, to me, is a lifelong journey. Whether I’m working a busy service or experimenting with something new at home, I find inspiration in every experience. The beauty of this art is in its endless opportunities to learn—not just from the food, but from the people and stories behind it.

For me, cooking is...

making connections. I constantly find myself invested in the craft due to its story-telling while expanding simultaneously on my technical knowledge.

I learned to cook at...

The Columbia Area Career Center, a high school cooking program. I've also graduated from BRCC with a degree in culinary arts and learn daily from work