Our Team
Melissa Loar
Born and raised in Chicago, Pastry Chef Melissa Loar always found herself drawn to the kitchen, testing new recipes at the family dinner table and exploring cake decoration throughout her youth before ultimately deciding to attend culinary school at Kendall College. It was here that she set her sights on becoming a pastry chef.
After school, Melissa accepted her first pastry position at Swift & Sons (BOKA Restaurant Group) and continued to hone her skills in the kitchen, rising to the position of opening sous chef at the group’s sister restaurant Somerset within a few short years.
At Somerset, Melissa established herself as a manager, leading 10+ culinary professionals and executing the round-the-clock demands of a grand hotel while continuing to expand her passion for pastry- familiarizing herself with chocolate work, specialty cakes, and breads. With much gained in a few short years, Melissa accepted a position as the group’s pastry sous chef at Michelin-starred BOKA, focusing on an elevated dessert menu inspired by seasonal ingredients. This would be her last station in Chicago before relocating to San Francisco and accepting the position of Pastry Chef at Octavia in 2021 where she currently leads the acclaimed restaurant’s pastry and dessert program, and has since launched the popular weekend pastry pop-up, Saturbake, which set the wheels for her new San Francisco bakery, Lorella, in motion.
Pastry Chef-Owner
Melissa Perello
Chef Melissa Perello, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, moved to San Francisco following her passion for food. Upon arrival, she worked under the tutelage of Michael Mina at Aqua in the early 90’s. After working with Mina, whom she cites as a major influence, Perello transferred to Aqua’s sister restaurant, Charles Nob Hill, where she worked alongside mentor, Chef Ron Siegel. She quickly rose to executive chef and earned accolades for her California-inspired French cuisine. While at Charles Nob Hill, Perello was awarded the San Francisco Chronicle’s Rising Star Chef honor in 2002, one of Food & Wine’s Best New Chefs in 2004, and James Beard Foundation Rising Star Chef nominations in 2002, 2003, and 2004. Perello then took the helm at Fifth Floor and led the restaurant to a Michelin star in 2006.
Additionally, Frances was named an Esquire magazine Best New Restaurant by John Mariani, one of Bon Appétit magazine’s “Ten Best New Restaurants in America” in 2010, and earned a Michelin Star, making Perello one of only a handful of women nationally to earn this achievement.
Chef Perello’s second San Francisco restaurant, Octavia, opened in 2015, with critical acclaim including a James Beard Nomination for Perello as Best Chef California, a three-star review from the San Francisco Chronicle, and a Michelin star. Both Frances and Octavia continue to garner media attention in the decade beyond their openings.
Co-Owner and Partner