We were lucky to catch up with Chef Ashley Dominique recently and have shared our conversation below.
Chef Ashley Dominique, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Any thoughts about whether to ask friends and family to support your business. What’s okay in your view?
From my personal experience your family and “friends” won’t be the first to support you. Your first supporters or believers will most likely come from people who aren’t related to you or have any personal ties to you…..and be perfectly fine with that! You have to separate your feelings from the business. Don’t focus on who isn’t supporting you focus only on who is. The ones who aren’t will eventually hop on board. You’ll just be in the position to let them or not at that time.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your background and context?
I am Chef Ashley Dominique also known as Chef Ash. I am the Owner and Executive Chef of A Taste Of Chef Ash LLC. I am also a Personal Chef for Jose Alvarado #15 of the New Orleans Pelicans as well as a private chef for everyday clients. I entered the culinary industry at the age of 14. I fell in love with every aspect of the industry. In 2018 I created my brand ‘A Taste Of Chef Ash LLC”. I offer personal/private chef services as well as catering. In 2018, started my business by selling daily dinners. That lead to an influx in catering and private dinner requests. In 2019 I took the leap of faith, quit my job, and began to work for myself full time. In 2020 I received the opportunity to be a Personal Chef for Professional Athletes. That summer I acquired my first NFL client, Jadeveon Clowney. I was his Chef for the 2020-2021 preseason and for the season. In the summer of 2021 I became the preseason Chef for Da’Shawn Hand (NFL) In the fall of 2021 I acquired my first NBA client, Nickeil Alexander- Walker. I was his Chef for the 2021-2022 season. In between working with pro athletes I am continuously working on building and expanding my brand. I am always consciously evolving personally and professionally so when I do have extra time I take classes with fellow chefs around the US to expand my creativity and to keep my skills up to date and fresh. I genuinely love what I do and it shows in my work. To come from where I come from and to be awarded the opportunities that I’m blessed with I know for sure if I can do all this while being a single mother to my three daughters; I know anyone can! I’ll never say that it’s easy but it’s for sure worth all the late nights and early mornings. Never be afraid to bet on yourself. You only miss 100% of the chances that you DON’T take.
What else should we know about how you took your side hustle and scaled it up into what it is today?
I MOST DEFINITELY turned my side hustle into a career. I started my business to make extra money for my daughters and I while I worked a full time job. My side hustle started bringing in more money than my actual 9-5 so I took a chance, quit my job and never looked back. Those dinner plates that started my business lead to more catering orders, the catering orders lead to more intimate inhome private dinner and dinner party reservations (this was during the height of the pandemic when restaurants were only doing takeout or were actually closed down), that lead to me receiving the opportunity to be a Chef for pro athletes. In 2020 while with my client I received a lot of media attention due to a meeting that he had with the New Orleans Saints head coach at the time while enjoying a four course dinner I prepared. That meal changed my life. I was attached to every news article with them. I was featured on ESPN, Sports Illustrated, and multiple news networks throughout the US. It’s a moment in my life I’ll never forget. I was put in front of millions by just simply doing what I love to do. Your gifts will make room for you.
Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?
I simply let my work speak for itself. It’s an entire vibe from the time I arrive until the time I leave a clients home. I am always told my food tastes as beautiful as it looks. Also I’m super humble. I don’t compare myself or my journey to anyone else. I stay in my own lane and do my own thing. Doing just that has gotten me this far and I feel in my spirit I’ve just gotten started. The best has yet to come.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.atasteofchefash.com
- Instagram: @atasteofchefash
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/atasteofchefashllc
- Linkedin: http://linkedin.com/in/ashley-crawford-1a2672221
- Twitter: @TheChefAsh
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCZ4HPEZ5BJzta_o
- Yelp: A Taste Of Chef Ash LLC
- Other: Google: A Taste Of Chef Ash LLC
Image Credits
OhTayProductions