Chef Mariana Ascoli
Private Chef In HoustonI was born and raised in Rio de Janeiro. Being a creative and passionate about food and traveling, I got my certificate in Business Management in Australia before graduating in Fashion Design in Brazil.
Since I moved to the US I shifted my career to the food industry and worked in renowned plant- based restaurants and french fine- dinning concepts. I was luck to learn from award winners and Michelin star chefs in Houston and currently I provide my clients with tailored menus and memorable dinner parties.
My menus reflect a lot of my lifestyle and professional experience and carry a selection of premium ingredients and the most loved dishes I cooked in the past years as a private chef. My cuisine is mostly wellness driven and veggie forward and my menus are inspired in places I visited, art exhibitions as well as the daily life at the vibrant city of Houston.
More about me
For me, cooking is...
a form of art and an experience that touches all senses.
I learned to cook at...
home watching my family cooking on Sundays and later on I learned hands- on from talented teams at many top notch restaurants.
A cooking secret...
Cooking with discipline and mindfulness.
My menus
Bruschetta d’Ascoli_ black garlic aioli, heirloom cherry tomatoes, caramelized balsamic-shallots, feta, dehydrated capers, extra virgin olive oil and arugula micro greens
Smoked Brisket Wonton Cups
Ahi- Tuna Tostadas_ with tangy slaw, creamy cashew- salsa verde, pickeled red onions and hawaiian black lava salt
Asian Platter_ bite size size veggie spring rolls with fish sauce vinaigrette, glazed pork belly skewers, shrimp lollipop whit peanut sauce
Harvest Salad_ Delicata squash, feta, caramelized pecans, apple slices and rubharb vinaigrette and baby gem lettuce
Asparagus and Faro Lemony Salad_ with baby green leafy, soy-citrus vinaigrette and shaved parmesan
Grilled Octopus Salad_ with arugula, cucumbers, celery, grapefruit, champagne vinaigrette, dill and micro greens served with castelvetrano olive ciabatta
Shrimp Skewers_ atop sweet corn coulis and micro cilantro
Creamy Tarragon Chicken With Hasselback Potatoes and Bacon Balsamic Brussels
Grilled Red Snapper With Cajun Cream Atop Crispy Polenta and Blistered Cherry Tomatoes
Braised Short Ribs in Wine Sauce_ with spicy french beans tossed in blue cheese and glazed pecans
NY Strip Steak_ atop caper- pancetta latkes and broccolini topped with fresh green peppercorn sauce
Apple Tarte Tartin. Salted Caramel
Chocolate Rum Cake
Deep fried tekila infused churros I Pinneaple- coconut jam I Dehydrated golden berries
Cashew Key Lime Pie (GF)
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Seafood Tapas_ sliced sourdough baguette with aioli, shrimp, calamari and mussels tossed in classic vinaigrette. Microgreens (basil and amaranth)
MEZE_ babagoush crostini, pink humus, sesame crackers, crudites, falafel, aged gouda, cheese ball coated in pecan and dried cranberry, prosciutto wrapped cantaloupe, blue cheese filled dates, assorted greek olives and seedless grapes
Harrissa Trout Rillets_ served with lavash
Beet Carpaccio & Goat Cheese with Pink Grapefruit Dressing
Farro, Arugula and Shaved Parmesan in Citrus- Soy Vinaigrette
Shiitake Congee and Brown Rice with Tangerine Rayu_ topped with green onions and crispy shallots (Vegan)
Cod Fish Cake with Romesco Foam
Pan Seared Salmon with Sweet Potato Latkes and Glazed Rainbow Carrots. Herbal Dressing
Macadamia And Harissa Rack of Lamb with Tabbouleh and Blistered Tomato. Pickled radish, mint and dill
Chicken Marbella With Fried Artichokes
Walnut- Rosemary Crusted Halibut With Macadamia Puree, Broccolini And Cava- Butter Sauce
Goat Cheese Cheesecake with Macadamia Crust and Berries Coulis
Non- Dairy Coconut Ice cream with Lychee Syrup (VV)
Chocolate- Tahini Swirl Tart with Whipped Mascarpone and Dusted Berries. Edible flowers
Cardamon Creme Brûlée with Fresh Peaches
Pistachio Bombe with Brandy Caramel
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Japanese Tartare- sushi rice, avo- yuzu cream, yellow beets gravlax, furikake, micro wasabi
Beet Falafel_ roasted macadamia puree, asparagus, drizzeld with tahini and topped with pickled radishes (GF-Vegetarian-VV)
Beet Carpaccio & Goat Cheese with Pink Grapefruit Dressing
Burrata Salad_ with seasonal fruits, balsamic, gremolata, arugula, lemon verbena compote,
Arancini_with sun- dried tomato pesto
Mixed organic mushroom risotto with parmesan tuille. Micro beet greens (vegetarian)
"Better than risotto" Shiitake Congee and Brown Rice with Tangerine Rayu_ topped with julienned green onions and crispy shallots (Vegan)
Purple cauliflower steak with Paris sauce, roasted miso-parsnips puree and lemon asparagus (Vegetarian)
Udon Noodles with Fried Tofu and Orange (Vegan)
Kabocha Agnolotti_ in brown butter and sage sauce (Vegetarian)
Vegan Classic Cheesecake with Very Berry Reduction and fresh organic strawberries
Non- dairy coconut sorbet with lychee syrup and passion fruit caviar (Vegan)
Lemon- Lime Tart (Vegetarian)
Three Layers Panna Cotta_ Latte and Chocolate Chips, Coconut- Vanilla and Espresso Caramel (Vegan)
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Ceviche Con Leche de Tigre and Plantain Chips
Cremini Mushrooms Cakes With Capers- Aioli (vegetarian)
Tapioca Pearl Boats with Queso Fresco And Pepper Jelly Sauce
Beef Ragu Arancini With Cilantro Pesto
Pan- fried mahi-mahi with tamarindo- arbol sauce atop grilled plantain garnished with micro greens (cillantro and cellery)
Braised short- rib in red wine sauce. Grilled pimiento polenta rounds. Gremolata and Fresh Cheese
Smoked Pork Chops with Apricot Mustard atop Sweet Corn and Queso Fresco Purée
Chicken a la Plancha with Spanish Rice and Grilled Veggies
Deep fried tekila infused churros with mango- pinneaple jam and fresh golden berries
Non- dairy Coconut Ice Cream with Lychee and Passion Fruit (Vegan)
Cashew Key Lime Pie
Espresso Panna Cotta
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Bruschetta d’Ascoli_ black garlic aioli, heirloom cherry tomatoes, caramelized balsamic-shallots, feta, dehydrated capers, extra virgin olive oil and arugula micro greens
Arancini with Sun- Dried Tomato Pesto
Prosciutto Tortellini Skewers With Butter- Lemon Sauce
The Cheese Lovers Board_ Queso de Oveja Viejo, Point Reyes Original Blue, Pear Mustard, Rosemary Crostini, Smoked Salmon Blini, Pistachio Cheeseball, Olive- Caponata, Watermelon Radishes
Harvest Salad_ Delicata squash, feta, caramelized pecans, apple slices and rubharb vinaigrette and baby gem lettuce
Burrata Salad_ with seasonal fruits, balsamic reduction, walnut gremolata, arugula, lemon verbena compote, espelette pepper and micro greens
Insalata di Mare_ grilled Octopus, shrimp, cucumbers, celery, grapefruit, champagne vinaigrette, dill and beet microgreens served with castelvetrano olive ciabatta
Linguine Frutti di Mare_ Homemade tagliatelle with calamari, mussels, shrimp and poached lobster tail
Chianti Sous Vide Short Rib. French beans Tossed in Gorgonzola and Pecans. Roasted Fingerling Potatoes
NY Steak with Fresh Green Peppercorn Sauce. Potato Pave. Sautéed Broccolini
Pan Seared Scallops. Lemon and Pea Risotto. Pecorino Romano tuille
Chicken and Prosciutto Rollatinni with Creamy Garlic- Tarragon Sauce. Asiago Polenta Rounds and Sautéed Mushrooms
Homemade Pea Agnolotti with Bechamel Capers Sauce (Vegetarian)
Brown Butter Salmon with Sweet Potato- Capers Latkes and Broccolini
Trumpet Mushroom Risotto with Herb Gremolata And Parmesan Tuile (Vegetarian by default, option to add steak or chicken Milanese under extra charge)
Open Cannoli_ layered dough and fig- ricotta cream, orange syrup and shaved bittersweet chocolate
Goat cheese cheesecake with walnut crust. Apricot reduction. Fresh figs and dehydrated apricot slices
Creamy Limoncello Italian Ricotta Cake
Apple Galette With Bandy Caramel
Espresso Panna Cotta
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Lobster Tail and Caviar Tartlets with yuzu- creme fraiche and dill oil
New French Board_ Saucisson de Sanglier, Pate de Campagne, Castelvetrano Crostini, Cornichons, Figs, Leek Tartlets, Camembert and Pepper Jam Blini
Cremini mushrooms croquettes and with capers- vegan aioli (vegan)
Seafood Tapas_ with shrimp, calamari and mussels tossed in classic vinaigrette and topped with radishes micro greens
The French Autumn Salad_ Butternut squash, feta, caramelized pecans, apple slices and pomegranate vinaigrette and grilled Belgian red and white endives
Asparagus and Leeks Veloute crunchy Shiitake, enoki and fried capers. Dill infused extra virgen oil drizzle. (Vegan)
Shrimp Verrine_ whipped avocado, sherry vinaigrette, cherry tomatoes, chives
Sourdough Tartine_ with avocado- mint crema, watercress, dehydrated capers, shaved carrots, radishes, cucumber in lemon vinaigrette and feta topped with microgreens (vegetarian)
Ribeye steak (8oz) au jus, potato au gratin and sautéed broccolini
Beef Bourguignon_ shaved eggs and pommes paille
Braised short- rib au vin. Roasted french beans tossed in blue cheese and pecans
Pan seared scallops with cava- butter sauce atop maitake mushrooms jasberry herb rice
Parmesan Crusted Frenched Rack of Lamb. Aligot. Paris Sauce with Fresh Green Peppercorn and Herbs Pistou
Fillet Mignon Marchand de Vin. Caper Potato Latkes. Bacon Wrapped French Beans
Pan seared Branzino with roasted dutch potatoes, beurre blanc, fennel foam, salmon roe, watermelon radishes and dill
Duck breast with glazed rainbow carrots, red wine reduction, pickled romanesco
Creme Brûlée with fresh berries
Goat cheese cheesecake with apricot reduction, mint and fresh black berries (shown in picture)
Berry Clafoutis
Pears and Brie Galete Rustic Pie
Chocolate Mousse_ with pistachio dust and dehydrated mango
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