Ashley Christensen began sharing her love of food with friends and family when she was a sophomore in college. Through her hosting of intimate dinner parties Ashley quickly recognized her passion for the craft of cooking, as well as the act of sharing it. From there her path was set, and food and community would begin to play an integral role in both her professional and personal lives. Ashley landed her first professional cooking job at 21 and knew she had found her life’s work. Thus began her perfecting the style of simple, off-the-cuff cooking that she had developed during those dinners.

Having been raised in mild-weathered North Carolina by two parents who placed incredible importance on food, Ashley had been instilled with a deep respect for locally grown and seasonal produce. Her commitment to local farmers is highly evident in her first solo venture, Poole’s Diner, which offers an evolving menu of local, seasonal fare. Ashley re-opened Poole’s Diner, a shotgun diner with 60 seats and one of Raleigh’s oldest dining establishments, in December 2007. Counting many of Raleigh’s residents and visitors as regulars, Poole’s Diner quickly gained national exposure with features in Bon Appétit, Gourmet, The New York Times and Southern Living.  In 2008, The News & Observer named Poole’s “Best New Restaurant.”  Ashley was named one of the “Female Chefs of the Next Generation” by Bon Appétit in their 2008 annual restaurant issue and holds the title of The Independent Weekly’s “Best Local Chef” four years running. 

Ashley has been a guest chef at The James Beard House and Taste of The South at Blackberry Farm.  She is an active member of the Southern Foodways Alliance and sits on the board of the Moore Square Farmers Market in downtown Raleigh.  Ashley also contributes her culinary talents to a number of local charities and non-profits, including and with active focus on the Frankie Lemmon Foundation.

When in Raleigh, you can find Ashley behind the stoves at Poole’s Diner.