Melissa Cookston Bio | Wiki
Melissa Cookston is an American chef and author. She is the owner and chef of Memphis BBQ Company, a barbecue restaurant with locations in Horn Lake, Mississippi, and Dunwoody, Georgia. Additionally, Cookston is the author of two cookbooks, Smokin’ in the Boy’s Room and Smokin’ Hot in the South.
She is a seven-time world barbecue champion and a celebrated southern Delta chef. In addition, Cookston has twice received the top prize at the Memphis in May World Barbecue Championship and is the only female barbecue world champion.
Moreover, Cookston served as a judge on season 4 of Destination America’s BBQ Pitmasters. She was named one of America’s most influential BBQ Pitmasters and personalities by Fox News. She is sponsored by Prairie Fresh and is a frequent contributor to Prairie Fresh’s communications and marketing efforts.
Melissa Cookston Age
Cookston was born in 1968, in Ruleville, Mississippi, United States. She is 54 years old.
Melissa Cookston Height
She is a woman of average stature and stands at a height of 5 ft 4 in (Approx. 1.62 m).
Melissa Cookston Family
She was born in Ruleville, Mississippi to her parents. Cookston grew up in Greenville, Mississippi, and Pontotoc, Mississippi. She holds an American nationality and belongs to the white ethnicity.
Melissa Cookston Husband
Cookston is married to her loving husband Pete. Together they are blessed with a daughter Lauren. Cookston’s family resides in Hernando, Mississippi.
Melissa Cookston Restaurant | BBQ
Cookston served in food preparation for years. In 1996, she began cooking barbecue and started entering competitions, where she won many. In 2007, Cookston and her husband quit their jobs and toured barbecue contests around the country. Moreover, in 2011, they opened their first restaurant, Memphis BBQ Company, which has locations in Mississippi and Georgia.
In October 2016, they opened the second restaurant, STEAK by Melissa, in Southaven, Mississippi. However, it closed in 2020. Additionally, Cookston also opened a catering/plate lunch restaurant in 2019 called Green Tomato Catering in Horn Lake, MS. She still works as pitmaster of Yazoo’s Delta Q barbecue team.
In 2017, she revealed that she had started breeding her own hybrid pigs. Since 2012, Cookston has appeared on TV shows such as Chopped, BBQ Pitmasters, CBS This Morning, The Kitchen, and The American Barbecue Showdown, among others.
Melissa Cookston Cookbook
Cookston is the author of two books:
Smokin’ in the Boy’s Room
Smokin’ Hot in the South
Melissa Cookston Net Worth
She earns her wealth from her career. Therefore, she has amassed a fortune over the years. Cookston’s estimated net worth is $5 million.
What Restaurant Does Melissa Cookston Own
Cookston is the owner and chef of Memphis BBQ Company which she opened in 2011. The restaurant is located in Mississippi and Georgia. She is a seven-time world barbecue champion and a celebrated southern Delta chef.
What Happened To Melissa Cookston
In 2011, Cookston opened her first restaurant, Memphis BBQ Company, which has locations in Mississippi and Georgia. In October 2016, they opened the second restaurant, STEAK by Melissa, in Southaven, Mississippi. However, it closed in 2020. She still works as pitmaster of Yazoo’s Delta Q barbecue team.