Book An Experienced Local Chef | Food Fire + Knives

Meet

Chef Ashley

Houston, TX

Serving a 30 mile Radius

Wonderful!

- Sebastian Francis

Welcome

"You have to be a romantic to invest yourself, your money, and your time in cheese.” ― Anthony Bourdain,

Chef Ashley's Specialties

Reviews

Wonderful!

Ashley Middleton has been my master caterer for the last three years. She consistently delights my dinner party guests by carefully preparing, presenting, and serving delicacies. Ashley’s culinary skills have been a complement to my theme events, such as tea party delicacies, down home soul food, speak easy appetizers, and casual Sunday brunches. She has great style and a knack for preparing vegetarians and gluten-free options. I look forward to her smile, style, professionalism, and consistent food quality for my upcoming intimate home events.

- Sebastian Francis

View All Reviews

About

Chef Ashley

About Me:
I embarked on my culinary journey as a salad prep Chef during my college days, with dreams of mastering the art of cooking. While culinary school was a tempting path, the cost led me to seek real-world experiences in bustling kitchens.

🔥 The Strata Fusion: My culinary voyage truly ignited when I joined the renowned Strata, a fusion restaurant under the guidance of the venerable Chef John Ly. Here, I honed my skills and discovered the profound value of patience. Chef Ly not only saw potential in me but also paved the path for my success. He remains my mentor and the person I owe my culinary journey to.

🍽️ Sous Chef Ascension: After years of dedication and learning, I earned the title of Sous Chef at Strata, serving there for six remarkable years. These experiences shaped my culinary identity.

🇫🇷 French Culinary Odyssey: My thirst for culinary knowledge led me to Fieldings, where I had the privilege of working under Chef Adelle—a true maestro of French cuisine. Here, I immersed myself in authentic French techniques and gastronomy, adding layers of depth to my culinary repertoire.

🍽️ Entrepreneurial Endeavors: My culinary adventures took a creative turn when I co-founded a catering company with a close family friend. Our venture thrived until the unexpected challenge of COVID-19 swept through the industry, forcing us to adapt and evolve.

💪 Adapting and Growing: Today, I continue to share my passion through seasonal work and private parties under my own company. I’ve been incredibly fortunate to cross paths with inspiring Chefs and seize diverse opportunities throughout my career. I carry the lessons learned from each experience, ensuring that I never stop exploring and innovating in the world of food.

🔥 My Culinary Journey: With 22 years of culinary dedication and the wisdom of extraordinary mentors, I remain committed to crafting exceptional dishes, nurturing a deep love for food, and exploring new culinary horizons.

Join me on this gastronomic adventure as we savor the flavors of life, one dish at a time.

Cuisines & Events: American, Anniversary, Asian Fusion, Bachelorette Party, Barbecue, Birthday, Breakfast/Brunch, Cajun/Creole, Comfort, Holiday, Italian, Local, Mexican, Thai

How to Hire a Private Chef for Your Event

Pick a place, date, and time.
Select your chef and menu. (Each chef offers different menus which are fully a la carte. Simply choose the dishes you want for your occasion.)
Add details like the number of guests and any special instructions.
Pay for your reservation. Make any changes or even cancel up to a week before your event for a refund.

After you’ve made a reservation, the private chef you’ve hired will reach out within 48 hours to confirm the details and coordinate their arrival.
If you’ve added any special dietary restrictions or event instructions, they’ll work with you to implement those.

Your chef will arrive with everything they need, including ingredients, cooking equipment, and cleaning supplies. All you have to do is sit back, relax, and enjoy the day with your guests.
The cleanup is included too! Hire a private chef with us and know that we’ll likely leave your kitchen cleaner than when you gave it to us.

Our Top FAQs

1. Can I customize the menu?

Absolutely! All our menus are fully a la carte. Once you’ve decided on a chef, you’ll see a list of all the dishes they offer and you can choose the ones you’d like for your event.

2. How is your service priced?

You pay a fixed price per guest based on your menu, plus a small, all-inclusive booking fee to our platform. You’ll be able to see exactly what you’re paying when you make a booking. No hidden costs, ever.

3. How many guests can I invite?

As many as you like! Although for events with over 30 people, we ask that you reach out to us to make an event inquiry.

4. My group has multiple dietary restrictions

That’s absolutely fine! When finalizing your menu, please mention these under ‘Special Instructions.’ For instance, you can specify that you’d like to accommodate one vegan guest and one gluten-free guest for your at-home catering and your private chef will prepare suitable dish variants for those guests.

5. Can I make changes to the menu or guest list?

Yes! You can make any changes to your booking. You can even cancel it up to a week before your event, and you’ll receive a refund.

6. Is my event insured?

Yes, it is. Our service includes full insurance for your private chef in case of any mishaps.

7. How are the Chefs chosen?

Each chef is fully vetted. We require at minimum one year of sous chef experience. Your chef has gone through an FCRA compliant background check and multiple interviews before joining our platform.

8. What is FFKs cancellation and refund policy?

We take pre-payment to secure your chef and simplify our service. No fumbling with payments after your event or dealing with multiple payments in different stages of the process. Much like our service, our return policy is simple and meant to protect you, our hosts and our amazing Chefs.

One week or more before your event we guarantee your refund.
During the week of your event we offer a 50% refund.
We will not be able to refund within 48 hours of your event. At this point your chef has not been available for other parties and has already planned for your event. *Please note all refunds are less processing and booking fees

WE Love playing with