Melissa d’Arabian launched her second cookbook December 30, 2014.
Melissa d’Arabian has done a lot of things in her lifetime. If you read her biography, it is sure to leave you exhausted thinking of all that she accomplishes — or at least asking the question, “How does she do it all?” Melissa is a celebrity chef, television show host, columnist, best-selling author, public speaker, mother, wife, sister and friend. She is one busy lady.
Raised in Tucson, Arizona, by a single mother, Melissa learned at a young age that maximizing resources is important. She prides herself on getting the most out of what is available. Those who know her regard her as genuinely amazing at organizing, planning, and prioritizing.
Educated at the University of Vermont and then at Georgetown, where Melissa earned an MBA after a year of working in the entertainment division of cruise ships, Melissa is not a formally trained chef. That didn’t stop her, however, from winning season five of The Next Food Network Star in August of 2009. Her victory transferred into a successful Food Network show, Ten Dollar Dinners. The premise of her show, and her promise to viewers, was “four people, ten bucks, infinite possibilities.” Melissa parlayed the success of her series into her first cookbook, Ten Dollar Dinners: 140 Recipes and Tips to Elevate Simple, Fresh Meals Any Night of the Week. The cookbook was an immediate success, enjoying a spot on the New York Times bestseller list.
Melissa and husband, Phillipe, have four wonderful girls.
Melissa recently released her second cookbook, Supermarket Healthy: Recipes and Know-How for Eating Well Without Spending a Lot, to positive reviews. Debuting on December 30, 2014, the book features recipes that prove “healthy eating at home is easy, achievable, and affordable.”
On Thursday, March 5, Melissa will be at Puesto at The Headquarters, where she will sign copies of her new cookbook Supermarket Healthy from 5 – 7 p.m. during a festive happy hour. In addition to the cookbook signing, the event will feature a collaboration taco between Puesto and Melissa, and $1.50 from the sale of each “Puesto and Melissa” taco will go directly to Share Our Strength/No Kid Hungry, a charity that Melissa supports.
As every parent knows, motherhood is challenging enough without adding celebrity status to it. Melissa has a unique way of compartmentalizing the various facets of her life so that she can focus on one thing at a time. She also has a way of staying on top of her personal and professional obligations — and doing so admirably. For example, in addition to her many professional commitments, she still manages to volunteer as the room parent for an elementary school classroom and is always willing to share her wisdom with friends and family who may need it, whether the subject is food, faith or even interview techniques. She could easily add team builder and interview expert to her list of marketable skills.
eCoronado.com was lucky enough to chat with Melissa about why she loves Coronado and some of her favorite things about the “island” and San Diego.
Q: How/why did you land in Coronado?
A: We used to visit Coronado because my sister’s family lives here, and our girls just loved visiting their cousins. Christmas night of 2010, as we drove back to our hotel room at the Loew’s, Philippe and I just turned to each other and said, “what if we moved here?” Within a couple of months, we bought a house and moved in. We felt at home the minute we arrived.
eCoronado: What is your favorite thing about living in Coronado?
Melissa: Let’s face it: Coronado is easy to love, with its beautiful beaches, gorgeous weather and bike-riding culture! But what is special about Coronado, what makes it home for me, is the community. I love that anywhere we go, my girls know someone. I love that my kids’ friends’ parents are my friends, and the women I know from my girls’ classrooms are also from my church. I find the crossover incredibly comforting and grounding.
eC: Favorite place to hang out/eat in Coronado?
M: Can I pick two places? Because we do a hybrid – my family loves to straddle the space between Which Wich and Burger Lounge! Sandwiches for three of my daughters (who never get tired of writing crazy names at the bottom of their sandwich order bags: “Order for Billy Bob Goat!”) and salads and burgers for the rest of us. [We like to] follow dinner with a stroll down to Yogurt Escape or Moo Time for a treat. As for hangouts – we love the old-fashioned vibe of the movie theater, or taking Roxy to dog beach followed by some serious dog-washing fun at Wag-N-Tails.
eC: What is your “go to” meal for your family? (Take out doesn’t count!)
M: Grilled fish or chicken, roasted veggies, some kind of raw salad or slaw, and rice or quinoa.
eC: What are your favorite eateries in San Diego (over the bridge)?
M: Easy. For casual dining, Puesto at San Diego Headquarters wins (my favorite tacos: filet mignon, the lobster taco and the soy chorizo potato taco). For a little higher end (but not stuffy) food: Juniper and Ivy for sure. Richard Blais is a creative genius with a whimsical, totally unpretentious attitude, so it’s fun to see what he’s trying out on his ever-evolving menu. For sushi, I’m a Sushi Ota devotee.
eC: Any traditions that you and your family share around the New Year?
M: Each year, Philippe and I review our family goals, personal goals and professional goals. We’re a good team that way – both of us are incredibly analytical.
eC: What keeps you going when things get crazy?
M: When things get crazy, I turn to one thing first: prayer. And having a husband who is always in my corner is a huge help too. My family is an incredible foundation for me – sometimes I just have to look at the calendar and remove all the extra stuff so the six of us can hunker down, connect, and let the outside world go by a day or two without us. I’m fed by the internal stuff: my faith, and my connection with my family.
eC: Anything else you would like our readers to know?
M: I’m grateful to be a part of Coronado. We could move Coronado to the landlocked center of the country, and it would still be my favorite place in the world.
To learn more about Melissa, click here.
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Kellee Hearther
Staff Writer
eCoronado.com
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Photos courtesy Melissa d’Arabian.
