About Terra Cotta Catering Comapny
Meet Chef Michelle
Michelle grew up in Buffalo, New York, and graduated from the Niagara Falls Culinary Institute before beginning her career in catering and large-scale events. In 2017, that path brought her to Nashville, where she continued to build her experience in the kitchen.
After stepping away from the industry for a short time in 2020, Michelle found her place at a neighborhood farm-to-table restaurant, tending the onsite garden, building relationships with local farmers, and cooking seasonal, European-inspired cuisine.
It was there that her passion for locally grown ingredients and thoughtfully prepared food truly took root.
That passion became Terra Cotta Catering Company. Through seasonal menus and meaningful hospitality, Michelle creates gatherings centered around beautiful ingredients sourced from Tennessee farms. Her goal is simple: to bring people together over naturally nourishing food while supporting the local growers and producers who make it possible.
When she's not cooking or working in the garden, Michelle enjoys hiking, attending live music, and spending time with friends and family.
Terra Cotta &
HydroHouse Farms
A defining part of Terra Cotta's story is its partnership with HydroHouse Farms. Founded by Hassan Sharaff, HydroHouse Farms is a hydroponic greenhouse in Hermitage, Tennessee, growing premium leafy greens all year round. Together, Michelle and Hassan share a passion for supporting local agriculture and helping people better understand where their food comes from.
Their partnership extends beyond sourcing ingredients. Together they host farm dinners, cooking classes, and community events that bring guests onto the farm to experience local food from the ground up—meeting the growers, learning about the harvest, and sharing meals built around what the season has to offer.