A woman with dark hair, wearing earrings, a necklace, and a floral top, smiling and looking at a dessert cake topped with red berries.

Welcome to my kitchen!

This is where I cook, create, experiment, and let ingredients guide me. Every recipe reflects my love for seasonality, bold flavor, and the art of plating with purpose. I hope you enjoy what you find here.

Explore recipes

Jellied Quince & Manchego
Melissa Zuniga Melissa Zuniga

Jellied Quince & Manchego

Jellied quince is a modern expression of an old recipe. Known traditionally as dulce de membrillo. It’s cooked until deeply colored and just set, balancing sweetness with quite floral depth.

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Red Currant Pavlova with raspberry sauce
Melissa Zuniga Melissa Zuniga

Red Currant Pavlova with raspberry sauce

A cloud of meringue with a crisp shell and soft center, finished with a vanilla cream, tart red currants, and a bright raspberry sauce. A simple dessert that feels elegant without trying too hard.

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Olive oil & rosemary sourdough seed crackers
Melissa Zuniga Melissa Zuniga

Olive oil & rosemary sourdough seed crackers

A simple, no-waste way to use sourdough discard. These addictive olive oil crackers are thin, savory, and deeply crisp, with rosemary, garlic, Parmesan, and seeds and baked low and slow for texture and structure.

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Yuzu-Kosho
Melissa Zuniga Melissa Zuniga

Yuzu-Kosho

This yuzu kosho recipe turns fresh yuzu peel, chiles, and salt into a vibrant citrus-chile paste that lasts for months and adds instant flavor to dressings, proteins, noodles, vegetables, and beyond…

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Yuzu- Ginger- Passion fruit Marmalade
Melissa Zuniga Melissa Zuniga

Yuzu- Ginger- Passion fruit Marmalade

This golden marmalade tastes like sunlight in a jar, it’s floral, fragrant, tangy and tropical. It brings brightness to everything it touches.

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Poached Seckel Pears with Creme Anglaise
Melissa Zuniga Melissa Zuniga

Poached Seckel Pears with Creme Anglaise

Tiny winter pears poached in warm spices and vanilla until glowing and tender, set over velvety creme anglaise. A soft, understated dessert that feels like a pause in the season.

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Fuyu Persimmon Carpaccio with Burrata
Melissa Zuniga Melissa Zuniga

Fuyu Persimmon Carpaccio with Burrata

Crisp Fuyu persimmons layered with creamy burrata and pops of pomegranate and pistachio. A fresh, colorful seasonal plate. Elegant and effortless.

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Concord grape Matcha latte
Melissa Zuniga Melissa Zuniga

Concord grape Matcha latte

A violet-to-green gradient latte made with Concord grape puree and whisked matcha—

the prettiest way to start (or end) your day.

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Brown butter- Strawberry Corn bread
Melissa Zuniga Melissa Zuniga

Brown butter- Strawberry Corn bread

A little cobbler, a little cornbread. This golden loaf is studded with peak-season strawberries and fresh sweet corn kernels folded into the einkorn, brown butter batter. Brushed with honey while still warm and finished with flaky salt. It’s a summer bake that’s equal parts tender, nostalgic, and just a bit indulgent.

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Sunflower-butter, chili-crunch udon
Melissa Zuniga Melissa Zuniga

Sunflower-butter, chili-crunch udon

These creamy chili crunch noodles come together in under 10 minutes with pantry staples like sunflower butter, tamari, and chili crisp. It is spicy, nut-free twist on peanut noodles, perfect for lazy weeknights or budget friendly cravings.

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Any -Jam vinaigrette
Melissa Zuniga Melissa Zuniga

Any -Jam vinaigrette

That almost- empty jam jar in the fridge? Don’t toss it, instead turn it into a delicious, versatile vinaigrette. This vinaigrette came from one of those moments and ended up being one of my favorites. Sweet, tangy, tropical, and a little unexpected. Perfect on so many things. Low effort, high reward,

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Rhubarb- rose creme brûlée
Melissa Zuniga Melissa Zuniga

Rhubarb- rose creme brûlée

A seasonal riff on a Creme brûlée with a spring floral rhubarb twist. I tucked a soft rhubarb- rose compote underneath the silky vanilla bean custard. Freezing the rhubarb base before baking helps each layer stay clean. Crack the top, and savor slowly.

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Spring Edible Flower Butter
Melissa Zuniga Melissa Zuniga

Spring Edible Flower Butter

Soft, salted butter pressed with edible flowers and herbs for a vibrant, sculptural spread that instantly elevates any table.

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Sweet Potato Miso Latte
Melissa Zuniga Melissa Zuniga

Sweet Potato Miso Latte

Roasted sweet potato meets white miso in a silky, aromatic latte with natural sweetness and savory depth. A modern, cozy drink for fall and winter.

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