MEET THE TEAM
Chef Restauranteur - Melanie Brown
In 2005, Mel began working as a pastry chef at Raymond Blanc’s ‘Le Petit Blanc’, moving next to NZ chef Peter Gordon’s kitchen at ‘The Providores and Tapa Room’ in Marylebone. Having also worked in Jamie Oliver’s ‘Fifteen’, Mel combined her experience as a trained chef with her philosophy of heroing provenance, flavour and quality of wine, to the posse at Vinoteca. She then returned to The Providores as Bar Manager. Already mildly obsessed with connecting people, wines and stories, Mel was instrumental in transferring the Providores’ wine offering to 100% New Zealand - the first of its kind in the UK.
In 2014 Mel focused on creating an online retail offering for premium New Zealand wines - The New Zealand Cellar was born. In 2015 crowdfunding enabled Mel to expand The New Zealand Cellar to a wine bar and shop in the exciting community project, Pop Brixton. Having also launched The Australian Cellar online in 2018, Mel decided to merge these two platforms to what is now Specialist Cellars. Today, this platform which channels New World wine passion, also includes South African wines to add to the mix!
Mel features regularly on judging panels such as Decanter World Wine Awards and IWSC, where The New Zealand Cellar has gained great acclaim. For five years running, TNC has won the prestigious ‘Specialist New Zealand Retailer’ at the International Wine Challenge awards and Decanter Retailer Awards.
Mel’s newest project, The Laundry Restaurant, unites Mel’s training as a chef with the energy of her wine knowledge. She is able to combine provenance, authenticity, traditional values and with the dynamism of youthful New World flavours to inform her wine list which itself is carefully curated to offer the most representative wines from all over the world!
Mel is a force of nature, a respected wine expert and businesswoman, with a passion for sharing great wine, great food and genuinely exceptional, friendly service to all of The Laundry customers, family and partners.
Mel never rests, so stay tuned for her next project, there’s always something about to happen!
Executive Chef - Samantha Harvey
Sami started her career in her home city of Sydney, as the fireworks went off at millennium, Sami was serving to the masses! Sami started her chef apprenticeship under the watchful eye of Anthony Musarra at the Park Hyatt Hotel, Sydney.
Having completed her apprenticeship, Sami moved to the UK to continue her culinary education at The Castle Hotel, Taunton. What was supposed to be a 2 week Michelin stage ended up as 2 years working under the direction of Richard Guest, with Sami working her way through the ranks of the kitchen.
In 2007 Sami returned to Sydney to work with Lovaine and Adam Humphrey and was privileged to be a part of the opening team for fine dining British Restaurant Arras. In 2012 Sami headed back to the UK to Divertimenti Cookery School, progressing to cookery school manager, curating and managing a large selection of cookery classes and events over three sites with guest chefs including Chantelle Nicholson, Peter Gordon, and Sabrina Ghayour.
In the Spring of 2020, Sami transitioned back to her first love, working in the kitchen full time as our Sous Chef, quickly progressing to Head Chef, and then Executive Chef in 2024; working very closely with Mel Brown, owner and founder of The Laundry Restaurant in Brixton.