Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Casebier.
Hi Ashley, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’ve always wanted to go to culinary school. When I lived in New York City at age 18, I toured the French Culinary Institute and knew that was where I wanted to go to school. But I fell into a trap of “shoulds”. I shouldn’t go to culinary school, you would be a restaurant chef for the rest of your life”. You should go to business school back home in Kentucky. Business school is more responsible. You should shelve the culinary dream and be responsible. I moved back to Kentucky and received a bachelor’s degree in marketing from the University of Louisville’s school of business. A year after graduating, I felt the familiar tug of going to culinary school come back. I wasn’t loving my first job out of college and there was a highly respected culinary school in Louisville, Sullivan University. I toured it, applied for financial aid, and enrolled in classes. And then the “shoulds” returned. “You shouldn’t get more student loans. You just graduated with a degree and tons of student loans. You should continue building a responsible career. Remember you don’t really want to be a chef at a restaurant all your life.” So I unenrolled and again, shelved the dream. Not being able to kick the dissatisfaction with my job, I knew a change of scenery would surely do the trick. I packed my bags, sold as much of my belongings as I could and bought a one way ticket to Austin, Texas. Their economy was good, jobs were abundant, it was the place to be in 2010… and still seems to be!
After my first year of figuring out what my next step would be as I settled in Austin, I started working in technology. Over the course of ten years, I worked my way up and was successful at each role I took on. I worked for a finance and insurance company, a start-up that was eventually acquired, and ended at Whole Foods Market, post the Amazon acquisition. I had a really stressful job. I never really enjoyed technology or the industries the companies I worked for serviced. Outside people interaction within the office, there was zero passion in my vocational life. For years I tried to find rest knowing I was financially providing for myself and future – I was being responsible and secure. But eventually, the toll of stress wasn’t worth it. I had followed the “shoulds” of being responsible and building a career that was financially lucrative and I was absolutely miserable. I felt the tug again to go to culinary school. This time I listened. I found an online program (Escoffier School of Culinary Arts) that would award a diploma in culinary arts upon successful completion. This allowed me to work full time and go to school full time. It wasn’t the in-person dream of attending culinary school but it was certainly an amazing experience. In the fall of 2020, I graduated with my culinary diploma with highest honors. 2020 left me with an eyes-wide-open view of life really being too short. It was time to put aside the “shoulds” and leave the career I build in technology to pursue what my heart always wanted – to be a chef and start my own culinary company. I am now the proud owner and executive chef of Southern with a French Twist. We are a culinary company on a mission to help people prioritize gathering around the dinner table to connect with others over a meal.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Once I decided to follow my heart, the road was significantly easier than the road of pursuing a career I quite honestly dreaded. Of course, there are hard days and challenges that you don’t see coming, but the road is beautiful, fulfilling, exciting, and exactly the place I am meant to be.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Southern with a French Twist?
We are a culinary company specializing in services that makes gathering around dinner tables and connecting with people over food easier. We are in a world where face-to-face connection with each other is challenged and gathering with each other over a meal – which is a critical healthy foundation in life – is becoming a lost act. Whether you’re a busy family struggling to make mealtime with your family less stressful and more meaningful, someone who likes to host but doesn’t want to do the cooking, or just need fresh dinner party inspiration, we are here to help you.
Our main services include customized weekly prepared meals, private in-home dinner parties, cooking classes, and professional chef services – think pre-packed vacation meals, AirBnb chef services, small party catering, holiday meal packages… we are always creating the next unique culinary experience to share with others!
Helping people gathering around the table with others is my life’s work. I’ve heard over and over again that hosting people for dinner is stressful. “What do you cook?” “My space is too small.” “I don’t have time.” “What do you say to each other?” I’ve heard it all. So the result is people throw their hands up and just don’t do it. When starting my company, I thought if I dedicate my talent and passion to removing the obstacles to gathering and therefore life around the dinner table thrives in our culture again, that is a life well-lived.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
I’ve lived a lot of life in my 36 years. One thing most people don’t know is that I used to model professionally in New York and internationally. Then I retired 😉
Contact Info:
- Email: hello@southernwithafrenchtwist.com
- Website: www.southernwithafrenchtwist.com
- Instagram: /chef.ashley.casebier
- Facebook: /southernwithafrenchtwist
- Youtube: /c/inashleyskitchen
