Zesty Catering

06/03/2024

Hi Everyone, I've just launched a Gofundme to help raise money to complete our first commercial space in Forest Park. Please donate if you can and share this campaign. Thanks so very much. FOOD IS LOVE

Dear Friends, Customers, Catering Clients, Fellow Food lovers, I miss you! I… Ashley Simone needs your support for Fuel Chef Ashley's Food is Love Mission

04/01/2024

Hot News! Zesty Catering (and Ashley's Daily Breads and Sunday Suppers) has officially taken possession of 7748 Madison, Forest Park. Several months of work await us but we will be back with bigger and better and more. Including cooking classes. So follow Chef Ashley and Zesty Catering for updates as we go along! Congratulations to Ashley Simone. (full dislosure--this is a photoshopped image)

04/01/2024

Hi Friends, Neighbors and my Beloved Clients,

I know it's been a long time. I've missed you all very much!
I bet you wonder where I've been and what I've been up to.
Well, I've been doing some meetings and trade shows for ISI, a company that I am an official culinary chef ambassador for. I develop recipes and demonstrate ho to use their high-end
whippers (you may have seen them at Starbucks, topping drinks with whipped cream). I develop lots of fancy foam and espuma recipes. I do trade shows in Chicago area and I travel to other shows as well.

But the biggest news is (drum roll please):
Zesty Catering, Inc. (my catering company) has officially signed a lease for a commercial space at 7748 Madison in Forest Park. (You may have known of it as the former location for Yum Thai.)
No, this is not an April Fool's joke. After MONTHS of negotiation, we have reached a deal and take possession today.
And don't drive by there looking for our sign. This is a photoshopped photo. (We will be getting a sign in the future). But yes, there's 1200 square feet to prepare and cook food for you and for my many catering clients throughout the Chicago area.
What does this all mean? Well, it's a pretty bare space now, and I need pretty much everything. Only the hood was left from previous occupant. So it will be a chance to rebuild the space in the way we need. One of the things I'm most excited about is designing the space to be able to offer cooking classes for both adults and children.

Here's the bad news, I will not be able to offer the Sunday Supper for about three more months. But by that time we hope to have completed renovations and be ready to officially open our doors.
I want to say this all has been possible because of you and your strong support and love of my food. I am eternally grateful to you all. Both getting to cook for you and meeting many of you.
I've only been in the space a few times. But today I'm going to go look at the space and start to envision what the future of Zesty Catering (and Ashley's Daily Breads and Sunday Suppers) will look like.

First, please be patient--this will take several months to get it up and running. But have no fear, I will be back, better than ever! And I will keep you updated on the progress.
So, happy April 1st. And please celebrate with me.

Food is love ❤
Chef Ashley Simone

01/03/2024

Day Two of Veganuary and I’m going to share with you the recipe for one of my favorite soups–something my mother made for me when I was a child. In fact, she still makes it for me. My Carrot Potato Soup.

https://youtu.be/R3Kw1j7sZnY?si=1tgJW5OQAQyg_JxF

And here’s the recipe:
Creamy Carrot Potato Soup
Ingredients
2 Tablespoons olive oil
1 whole onion medium dice, about 1 ½ cup
4 medium potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced, about 4 cups
7 medium carrots grated, about 5 cups
6 cups of vegetable broth, or to just cover vegetables
1 bay leaf
2 Tablespoons chopped fresh tarragon
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions
Heat oil in medium pot over medium heat and add onions about 5 minutes or until tender (add a little salt and pepper to start). Add carrots and potatoes and sauté 3-4 minutes. Add vegetable broth.
Simmer for 15 minutes over medium heat, until vegetables are tender.
Put immersion blender in pot and blend until smooth and creamy (if you don’t have an immersion blender, you can put the soup into a blender and blend till creamy and then put back into the pot). Adjust seasonings to taste. Sprinkle in 1 tablespoon chopped tarragon and use the other tablespoon for garnish.

And, guess what? I’m going to be at the Chicago Soup & Bread (held at the Hideout ) on Wednesday, January 3rd, and one of the soup’s I’m bringing is Carrot Potato Soup. Read more about it here. And maybe you’d to come have some soups and bread, and support a good cause.

https://soupandbread.net/2023/12/27/soup-bread-2024-january-3/

Saucy Chef Ashley Simone recreates her favorite childhood soup--Carrot Potato Soup. Tarragon gives it some French undertones, and the great thing is that it ...

01/01/2024

Join Chef Ashley for Veganuary!

08/03/2023

NEXT THURSDAY! Hope you can join us for this tasty pop-up at Exit Strategy Brewing Company.

04/17/2023

If you in the Forest Park area, will we see you tomorrow night?

Our monthly residency with Soup & Bread Forest Park returns tomorrow evening!(Tues 4/18)
These are grassroots based events in which we (professional & home cooks) come together to fight food insecurity and build strength in our communities. Guests are welcome to enjoy soups for free while we collect donations that will support local food outreach programs.

This month, we will be collecting donations for the Forest Park Food Pantry. Every single dollar collected will go straight to this invaluable organization as they stock their shelves with healthy food options for our community members in need…
(cash donations only please)

We are also welcoming some new small business sponsors to our band of merry soup makers!
and join us with vegan & vegetarian options! Thank you Karl & Ashley!!

We’ll have around 10ish soups to try, bread to accompany and live music from the The Szurko Trio…
Beer and wine will be available for purchase and good times will be had!

Our evening runs from 6:00-8:30pm with last call at 8:15p.

Come out. Eat soup. Have a beer. Give back. Feel good.

01/18/2022

We provide both individual and larger sized charcuterie, cheese & fruit, and middle eastern platters for your events.

01/18/2022

Dinner salads all ready to go!

11/20/2021

Check out our very own Chef Ashley Simone do a cooking demo for the Forest Park Library. Watch and learn how to make lovely holiday Charcuterie and Cheese platters.

01/11/2021

Delicate Lavender Lemon Cupcakes for a special client

01/11/2021

Small bite desserts for drop-off orders. Tasty sweet treats for your events.

01/11/2021

Salads!!!! Caprese and Simple Italian 😋

06/10/2020

Charcuterie platters available for contactless drop-off for your next party or meeting

06/02/2020

Hi Friends and Neighbors, These are hard, scary, confusing times. I can't change that but I can offer you some love in the form of bread. Bread & Scones for days Wednesday June 3rd to Friday June 9th

03/12/2020

We were so happy to volunteer and donate vegan cakes (Mango Upside-Down cakes) for the Vegan dinner and shelter tonight in Oak Park at Grace Episcopal Church. Such a wonderful experience and for such deserving souls ❤️ @ Grace Episcopal Church of Oak Park

02/13/2020

Need Sweets? Zesty Catering provides housemade desserts to make your event as smash. Gluten-free and vegan options available as well.

02/03/2020