Melissa Sperka – The Author

Welcome to Melissa’s Southern Style Kitchen. Serving up comfort, tradition, and a whole lotta love since 2011.

Hey y’all! I’m Melissa Sperka, the author behind Melissa’s Southern Style Kitchen. Originally from Virginia, I’m now proud to call central North Carolina home. I started this website back in 2011 with one goal in mind: to share the kind of food that brings families together. The kind of food I grew up with—rich in flavor, steeped in tradition, and made with love. I’m a proud home cook, and everything I know about cooking started in the kitchens of the women who came before me. I was taught by my mom and grandmothers, who showed me that food is more than just a meal—it’s a way to show love, care, and connection.

Expertise: Recipe development and food photography since 2011. Over the years, my passion for recipe development and food photography has led to opportunities I could have only dreamed of:

Education:  Strong media and communication professional with a Diploma focused in Nursing Science from Roanoke Memorial School of Nursing. I worked post grad as an OB/GYN Nurse Manager in the hospital and office setting before my son’s were born. That’s when my passion for food took over, and Melissa Sperka the Author was born.

Cuisines: I cook the food I love to make and grew-up eating. Southern food is the heart of my kitchen, but my table is full of variety. You’ll also find flavorful dishes inspired by other cuisines I love—like Mexican, French, Asian, Italian, and Greek—because good food knows no borders. Whether it’s a skillet of cornbread, a bubbling pan of lasagna, tender teriyaki steak bites or homemade enchiladas, if it brings comfort and joy, it belongs here! Southern food may be my foundation, but flavor is my inspiration—and I’m so excited to share both with you.

Location: Piedmont Triad in beautiful North Carolina, where the skies are always Carolina Blue.

Family: When I first started Melissa’s Southern Style Kitchen, my two boys were still little — running through the kitchen, taste-testing recipes (especially anything sweet!), and making life wonderfully full and chaotic. Over the years, as my blog grew, so did they. Now they’re grown, but they’ll always be my biggest taste-testers and biggest fans. Watching them grow up alongside this journey has been one of my greatest blessings — and truthfully, they’ve always been my real inspiration. They’re the reason I started sharing my recipes in the first place, and the heart behind everything I create in the kitchen.

My Faith: My faith is at the center of everything I do — it guides my heart, my work, and the way I share with others. I truly believe that the kitchen is a place where love is shown through service, and meals become more than just food — they become blessings. Whether I’m developing a new recipe, writing a blog post, or cooking for my family, I do it with gratitude and a prayerful heart. I’m so thankful for the opportunity to use my gifts to connect with others, and I consider it a true joy to share a little light, love, and encouragement along the way.

🍴 Fun Facts About Melissa Sperka

• I started cooking as a kid—my first “official” job in the kitchen was stirring the gravy for Sunday dinner!
• Sweet tea is practically a food group in my house.
• My most-requested recipe from friends and family? Pimento Cheese, Southern Fried Chicken, Fluffy Southern Buttermilk Biscuits, Baked Garlic-Herb Mashed Potatoes , Italian Cream Cake and Coconut Cream Pie.
• I photographed every dish on my website myself—yes, even the ones I had to shoot standing on a chair!
• I’m a firm believer that cast iron makes everything taste better.
• My cookbook debut on QVC was one of the most surreal and exciting moments of my life. I’ll be forever grateful for the experience.
• I could eat Southern-style deviled eggs every day and never get tired of them. That’s right. Every. Single. Day.
• I always test recipes multiple times before they ever make it to the blog—nothing gets posted unless I’d serve it to my own family.
• I’m obsessed with Banana Pudding in any and every form.
• I’m equally obsessed with Mexican street corn, pasta carbonara and Greek lemon chicken—my kitchen loves to travel!
• I have a soft spot for vintage cookbooks and handwritten recipe cards—they’re like family heirlooms to me.

Here at Melissa’s Southern Style Kitchen, you’ll find:

• Tried-and-true Southern recipes for everyday meals and special occasions plus global flavors from time to time as well.
• Step-by-step video tutorials to help you feel confident in the kitchen.
• Family-friendly dishes that are perfect for weeknight dinners, potlucks, holidays, and everything in between.

Every recipe you see here has been developed and tested in my kitchen and family approved. I believe in food that’s not just delicious, but approachable—whether you’re a seasoned cook or just learning the ropes. I take pride in making sure every recipe works, every time.

Southern food isn’t just about ingredients—it’s about stories, memories, and the people we share it with. Thank you for letting me share my table with you.

So grab your apron, pour yourself a glass of sweet tea, and come cook with me!