05/19/2025
Hello, I'm Chef Ashley Dene', a local Chicago black-owned business owner seeking to expand my culinary endeavors.
🔗 https://favchef.com/2025/ashley-smith
My Why!! ⬇️
I began cooking at the age of seven, and it remains one of my fondest memories, cooking in the kitchen with my mother. Cooking always evokes memories of family gatherings, cocktails, and enjoyable times with loved ones. I continued to cook, initially entrusted with preparing desserts for our family gatherings.
During my time at Howard University, I became fully immersed in the culinary world, watching Food Network and appreciating chefs from around the globe sharing their passion for food, history, and culture. Unable to return home for holidays as a full-time student with a job, I began hosting holiday dinners at my residence. This eventually led to frequent cooking and sharing my love for food with friends. I started hosting Sunday dinners and cooking for fundraisers to support local charities and feed the homeless.
My passion for cooking grew, and my home became a place where people could eat, relax, and enjoy good company, even when they couldn't afford food. This all began when I hosted a house party fundraiser for the Escape to the Mecca Tour, which provided an opportunity for Chicago high school students to visit my alma mater during spring break.
This experience led me to start my business as an event planner and chef for curated events that gave back to the community. I firmly believe in giving back to my community and strive to create opportunities to share my experiences, demonstrating how to turn passion into profit.
In 2018, I relocated to my hometown due to my parents' rapidly declining health. This experience led me to delve deeper into food, medication, and natural remedies, teaching me that food is medicine. This knowledge inspired me to join the Fave Chef competition, sharing my understanding of food and creating a community garden to share with the community.
I would greatly appreciate your support. This competition, supported by the James Beard Foundation, aims to support up-and-coming chefs. I entered the competition to win the $25,000 prize, hoping to establish a community garden where I can teach entrepreneurship to children and families.
My goal is to help build sustainable communities while emphasizing the importance of food as medicine. I aim to teach people how to turn their passion into profit and ultimately open my food truck, utilizing fresh vegetables to create exceptional dishes and continue sharing my love for food.
I've been fortunate to reach the Quarterfinals and need your help to secure first place. With your support, I will win. Is Ashley Smith your Favorite Chef? Voting ends Thursday, May 22nd, at 7 PM PDT. Please use your free vote daily, and consider making a donation. Share this to help me secure the win. Thank you in advance for your support. 🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾💪🏿💪🏿
