CAKE IS ART
MEET PASTRY CHEF MELANIE STAGNARO
"Sharing my passion with the world, one hand-crafted piece
of edible art at a time."
Melanie, along with her husband Anthony, is one half of the creative force behind Studio Provisions, bringing her diverse skill set to create custom edible works of art for weddings, special events & corporate. In her signature style, she combines modern technique with Old World Victorian glam to ensure each work of art is truly one-of-a-kind.
Utilizing food as an art medium, Melanie combines both modern and classic French techniques when creating custom sweets. She pulls inspiration for her flavors & designs from baking and pastry trends, architecture, textiles, paint palettes and her various experiences in world travels. With each design custom tailored to your event, you're bound to have the perfect dessert for each of life's special occasions.
BACKGROUND
Originally from Vancouver, Canada, Melanie found her calling to the culinary world while earning her Bachelor's Degree in Science. Interning in Toronto with Alexandria Pellegrino of Cake Opera Co., she trained to pay close attention to detail, become resourcefully creative and truly appreciate the art within the craft. Together, they created elaborate wedding cakes for luxury lifestyle magazines such as WedLuxe, The Wedding Co., and Colin Cowie Weddings.
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Since then, Melanie has quickly moved on to work for some of the most highly acclaimed pastry chefs in the world. Training with the Paris executive team in 2016, Melanie opened Chef Christophe Adam's flagship North American location of L'Éclair de Genie in Vancouver, Canada. In 2017, she then moved on to open Chef Dominique Ansel's first-ever restaurant and bakery on the West Coast, at The Grove in Los Angeles. During her tenure as his Executive Pastry Sous Chef, while he was named 'World's Best Pastry Chef' by The World's 50 Best, Melanie led the team to earn a Michelin L'Assiette recognition, constantly serving up pastries to the late Jonathan Gold, and making their way on to the LA Times 101 List.
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Most recently, Melanie opened the San Diego RMD Group's Huntress, and Lumi by Michelin starred Chef Akira Back. Her viral creations landed her in various articles in Eater, Where San Diego, Chef's Roll, Pastry Arts Magazine and Modern Luxury.
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Melanie now brings her talents to the Napa Valley with Studio Provisions, initially a pop-up concept she and her husband started in 2020 during the pandemic to raise money for the Restaurant Relief Fund, helping those hit the hardest in the industry. The company has since expanded from Seasonal Pastry Pop-Ups to include Melanie's Luxury Cakes & Sweetscapes, catering to the Napa Valley's most luxurious hotels and venues.