Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Childs
Hi Ashley, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My passion for food and nutrition began when I watched ‘fat sick and nearly dead.’ I took a juice fast which changed my life, I went vegan and began a mobile raw juice company. I moved to Los Angeles and began working at great earth in weho as a kitchen manager, making vegan soups. From their I was offered a job as a personal chef and worked at many restaurants in Los Angeles such as Doomies, and Follow Your Heart as a chef, including being the chef to help open vegan restaurant ocado in Sherman oaks. I began doing vegan Cajun/ Southern popups with my husband and we took this to vegan street faires yearly and weekly events. I am currently working as the head chef at Tony’s Darts Away in Burbank and am working towards my masters as a Dietitian at Cal State LA.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Living in Los Angeles has been a constant journey and hustle since I moved here in 2012. I wouldn’t exactly describe it as smooth. I originally moved here to pursue a career in music along with my juice company. I was divorced, and remarried, and lived through Covid of course.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am very passionate about food as a tool for healing, and pride myself in manipulating foods and recipes that I grew up with, finding ways to make them vegan and healthier, while staying true to nostalgic recipe flavors and textures.
I also have an apothecary and believe in the healing power of herbs and am obsessed with the olde ways of medicine which I incorporate in cooking.
I think what sets me apart is my diverse heritage. I am Black, Italian, Mexican, and my family has southern roots. So, the foods I grew up with, and am inspired by the most are very southern african american influenced. However, my diversity plays a role in everything I create.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
The most important lesson I have learned along my journey is to never give up, No matter how hard things get, it will get better, and If you believe in yourself, anything is possible. Truly
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @ChefAshMarie, @AshAboveSoBelowAlchemy
- Other: @TonysDartsAway
Image Credits
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