Whether cooking up a delicious lunch at Siete HQ, food & prop styling for product launches, or creating recipes for Siete’s social media audience, Melissa (Mel) Carroll brings warmth, heart, and boundless creativity to her role as Brand Chef at Siete. Before she joined the Siete familia, Mel built upon her abundant skills as a culinary & pastry professional with roles at the South Congress Hotel, Dolce Neve, and the LINE Hotel in Austin. She also received multiple “Best Pastry Chef of Austin” nominations for her work at Austin brasserie and patisserie, Le Politique. Outside of the kitchen, Mel loves movies, creating visual art, fashion, music (she’s a DJ!), and hanging out with her cat, Luna.

Sara Van Gorden brings over 14 years of culinary leadership, fine-dining experience, and tremendous care to her work as Brand Chef here at Siete. Before joining the Siete familia, Sara worked at Michelin-starred institutions and high-volume kitchens—including The Nomad Hotel, Dirty French, and Carbone in New York, as well as Pitchfork Pretty in Austin. Inspired by her mom’s cooking and Salvadoran heritage, Sara combines craftsmanship, curiosity, and creativity. Whether Sara’s helping to feed a hungry Siete HQ or crafting a new recipe, she approaches every dish with heart and dedication.