Ashleigh Shanti

Ashleigh Shanti (born circa 1991) From 2018 until 2020 she was the chef de cuisine of Benne on Eagle in Asheville, North Carolina.

Early life and education

Shanti is originally from North Carolina. She lived in Nairobi, Kenya for a gap year break from university. Upon her return, she attended Hampton University. After graduating from Hampton, she moved to Baltimore, Maryland to attend culinary school. She eventually earned her sommelier certification. Shanti appeared alongside Howard in the episode "Dumpling Dilemma" of Howard's television show Somewhere South.

Upon leaving her position with Howard, Shanti began traveling the U.S., struggling to figure out where and what she wanted to do or where she wanted to live. During her travels, she was inspired by her visit to The Grey and a conference in Denmark, where she saw Jeannette Ehlers talk about reclaiming African history. The book won a James Beard Award in 2025 for the U.S. Foodways category.

In October 2018, Shanti met John Fleer, owner-chef of Rhubarb.

In 2019, Shanti was named one of "16 Black Chefs Changing Food in America" by The New York Times.

Shanti competed in Top Chef: Houston, the nineteenth season of the television series Top Chef, which aired in 2022.

Her restaurant, Good Hot Fish, a modern-day fish camp was set to open in January 2023 in South Asheville, North Carolina. Shanti was a judge for the National Gingerbread House Competition in 2023.

Cuisine

Shanti's cuisine often explores Black Appalachian food, Southern food and soul food. Her modern interpretations of early Black American food also incorporates West African, Japanese, European and American cuisine.

Personal life

Shanti loves rap music and writes rap songs in her free time.