Bonjour. Hello. 

I'm Ashley, a Louisiana-born creative now living in Cleveland, Ohio. I grew up in Baton Rouge with a bayou behind our house, surrounded by Cajun cooking, strong opinions about food, and the kind of family stories that only seem believable once you've lived through them. Yes, I still have all my teeth.

I'm a graphic designer by profession and currently work as an Executive Communications Presentation Designer, but food has always been the creative outlet that followed me home after work. What started as cooking for family and friends eventually grew into recipe development, food styling, food photography, and a space where I could combine design, storytelling, and a lifelong appreciation for a really good meal.

These days, I develop and photograph recipes for Heinen's Grocery Store while continuing to create my own original recipes inspired by my Southern roots and whatever happens to be in season. You'll find plenty of Cajun influences here, but I don't believe good food has to stay inside one tradition. If it tastes good, it's welcome at my table.

Writing has quietly become just as important as cooking. Whether it's recipe introductions, social media, or the stories behind the food, I've always found that the memories attached to a meal are often more meaningful than the recipe itself. That love of storytelling has led to my biggest project yet: my first memoir, which explores family, marriage, identity, and growing up along the Mississippi River. More details are coming soon, and I can't wait to share it with you.

If you're interested in working together, I offer recipe development, food styling, food photography, and creative writing for food and lifestyle brands. My approach is collaborative, thoughtful, and focused on creating content that feels genuine instead of staged.

Thanks for stopping by. Grab a recipe, stay awhile, and if you have a project in mind, I'd love to hear from you.

You can reach me on Instagram @ashleysdurand.