Melissa Elsen

About the Author

Melissa Elsen is a renowned pastry chef and co-founder of Four & Twenty Blackbirds, the celebrated Brooklyn pie shop that has become a pilgrimage site for dessert lovers worldwide. With a deep-rooted passion for baking inherited from her Midwestern roots, she has spent over a decade perfecting the art of pie-making, blending traditional techniques with innovative flavors. In her debut cookbook, The Four & Twenty Blackbirds Pie Book: Uncommon Recipes from the Celebrated Brooklyn Pie Shop, Elsen shares her expertise through more than 50 recipes that showcase seasonal ingredients and meticulous crusts. A self-taught innovator, she draws inspiration from family lore and urban foraging, transforming the humble pie into a canvas for creativity. Beyond the bakery, Elsen advocates for sustainable sourcing and hosts workshops that demystify baking for home cooks, proving that exceptional pies are within anyone's reach.