Today we’d like to introduce you to Mariana Ascoli.
Hi Mariana, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
With a background in Business and Fashion Design, my path shifted when I moved to Texas — and hospitality became my true calling. It all began 10 years ago in Austin, at Citizen Eatery on Burnet Road. A plant based restaurant where the menu was thoughtful, the chefs were inspiring, and that kitchen sparked my fascination for plant forward cuisine.
After moving to Houston in 2018, I worked in Japanese kitchens and at Le Jardinier Houston, a Michelin-starred French concept, where I discovered the discipline and precision of fine dining.
Food and nutrition have always been part of my life. As a young gymnast, I learned early the power of food, clean and nutrition dense ingredients.
I launched When Art Meets Food in 2020 to merge elevated dining at home with nutrition, offering in-home meal prep and special occasion dinners for clients who value both wellness and an elevated dining experience.
Today, my cooking brings all of those chapters together, and a belief that food should be beautiful, clean, and deeply nourishing.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It’s never smooth, even in the most organized kitchens.
The kitchen is loud, demanding, and often controlled chaos—but that challenge is part of the thrill. Every setback has sharpened my skills and made me a better chef. As the saying goes, “A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor.”
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
When Art Meets Food is a private chef and boutique meal serving the Houston area, created to bring elevated dining, nutrition, and convenience into the home. I specialize in chef-crafted meal prep, private dinners, and special occasion experiences for clients who value quality ingredients, beautiful food, and a highly personalized service.
What sets the brand apart is the attention to detail. Every menu is curated with intention, from sourcing organic, premium ingredients, presentation, and client preferences. It is not a one-size-fits-all service. It is personal, refined, and rooted in hospitality.
Brand-wise, I am most proud that When Art Meets Food has grown through trust, relationships, and consistency.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
One of the biggest risks I took was choosing private cheffing over a more traditional full-time position in the industry. In a full-time kitchen job, there is more predictability. In private cheffing, besides wearing all the hats — which can be a good thing, too — one client can represent a large percentage of your income, so every relationship and detail matters.
It carries real pressure, but it is deeply rewarding, and beautiful work.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.whenartmeetsfood.com
- Instagram: @whenartmeetsfood
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=when%20art%20meets%20food
