OUR TEaM
Our classes are taught by industry-professional instructors, each boasting a diverse background, and widely varying experience. All of our chef-instructors, though, subscribe to the same principles for preparing delicious, wholesome, internationally-inspired foods for an appreciative audience.
Our chef-instructors coach students in different cooking styles including the history, culture, and any customary ceremony associated with those foods. Every dish is prepared—as we like to say—as though at the hands of the mamas in the country from which each recipe originates.
Melanie Cecilio
Founder/ CEO
Melanie has brought her immense talents to teaching, developing, and curating recipes, and heading up product initiatives for leading global food companies, including Kraft, Nestlé, Glad, Monde Nissin, Cuisinart, and Heinz-UFC. She has distinguished herself by establishing Cooking Basics in Manila, Philippines, and doing all of the concept work—from architecture to relationship development—for building Hudson Table in Hoboken. She has also taught cooking classes at Haven’s Kitchen, Hunt Hill Farm, Natirar, Sent Sovi in Barcelona and was chef instructor at the Institute of Culinary Education in New York for over 9 years. Aside from cooking, she continues to serve as a culinary school consultant for companies and institutions.
Little Fox Kitchen, though, is Melanie’s dream: a place to share cuisine learned at the side of master chefs around the world; to inspire and educate amateur chefs and food aficionados; and above all, to celebrate the joys of food with others. Melanie, a firm believer in experiencing food, continues to travel to culinary hotspots, bringing back stories, techniques, and history to properly season her recipes—both original and traditional.
Veronica Duco
Chef Assistant
I have been in love with food for as long as I can remember. I would walk home from school with another foodie and we would talk about what we were going to cook when we got home. While in high school I worked at Classic Thyme in Westfield and loved working the cooking classes and being around everything food related. I received my Culinary Arts degree from Johnson and Wales University in RI. I moved back to NJ and started working at the Frog and the Peach. I started in the pastry department because it was the only position available and I left as the lead line cook to work at Oceana in NYC.
In NYC I gained so much experience and it really shaped my culinary journey. I had an opportunity to shift positions to the FOH and worked at Bouley, Per Se, Corton, Lincoln and Ai Fiori to name a few. I loved that I basically knew all the ins and outs of the restaurant business, I could still be involved with food but also the guests' experience.
I lived and worked in various fine dining restaurants in Chicago, Washington State and Napa before having my two beautiful girls and moving back to NJ. My husband is a Chef in NYC and we are definitely a food driven family. After having kids it was hard to go back and work in a physical restaurant because of the demanding schedule so I started a meal prep service, worked at my fathers deli, worked as a chef at a school and am now working for an HR company that caters to hospitality and I am also delighted to be part of the Little Fox Family and to be a part of this amazing culinary team
Michael Pineiro
Lead Chef Instructor
Stemming from a strong passion for food, gastronomy has always been a part of Michael’s life. Since he can remember, food has always been something of great importance and never took for granted. To being an infant and remembering the abuelas cooking Sunday dinner, to most recently cooking in Michelin restaurants across the world.
Michael has been learning traditional classic French cuisine and techniques since vocational high school. He worked in the most modest of places such as a popular local deli, famous New York establishments, to eventually working in Michelin kitchens around Spain and some such as Minibar by Jose Andrés, Bouley at Home, and Eleven Madison Park.
His focus is to keep the fine dining techniques, flavors, and knowledge I’ve absorbed but at the same time make it relatable and fun even for the most novice of cooks.
Marzena Papierz
Chef Assistant and Chef Instructor
In 2014, I developed a keen interest in well-being, which led me to pursue further education at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. In 2016, I completed the Natural Gourmet Institute's food therapy program, followed by the Plant-Based Culinary Arts program at the Institute of Culinary Education. Through these programs, I gained valuable knowledge about cooking techniques and the importance of utilizing high-quality, seasonal, and local ingredients for health-supportive diets.
In 2016, I established Viride Oasis, a health coaching practice. As a Certified Functional Health Coach and Natural Food Chef, my mission is to assist busy women in reducing stress and improving their overall quality of life by enhancing their gut-brain health and incorporating self-care rituals that are often overlooked due to demanding schedules.
My commitment to a holistic approach to wellness prompted me to launch my "Mindful Kitchen" project in 2016. Through this initiative, I lead health-supportive, interactive cooking classes for women, where we prepare delectable plant-based meals while discussing the gut-brain connection, hormonal balance, and other related topics.
Upon completion of my culinary education at the Institute of Culinary Education in 2022, I commenced work as a Private Chef for multiple families throughout the city. My services include weekly meal preparation, pantry/kitchen organization, and personalized meal plans that cater to my clients' unique needs and lifestyle preferences.