Ashley Merriman Explained

Ashley Merriman is a chef from Center Sandwich, New Hampshire.^[1]

She graduated from Hamilton College (class of 1998) and the Institute of Culinary Education (ICE). When Merriman was in New York City, most of the time she worked at Butter and when in Seattle, at Tilth. In 2009, Merriman appeared on season six of , finishing 10th. At that time, she was working as a chef in Seattle at Branzino. ^[2]

She went east to work for Alex Guarnaschelli and in 2012 took over the kitchen at the Waverly Inn in the West Village.^[3]

Merriman is married to fellow chef Gabrielle Hamilton. They bought into The Spotted Pig with restaurateur Ken Friedman^[4] but backlash from accusations of sexual harassment by Friedman made them decide to pull out.^[5] At the time, they were co-chefs at their restaurant Prune.^{[6] [7]}

In 2021, she was hired as the executive chef at the National Arts Club in Manhattan.^[8]

References

1. Web site: Ashley Merriman . ICE . 28 October 2022.
2. News: Lesson . Nancy . Spencer . Aaron . Ashley Merriman, 86'd from Top Chef, exits Branzino . October 28, 2022 . The Seattle Times . October 30, 2009.
3. News: The Top Chef alum brings her aspirations to a New York institution. . 28 October 2022 . Curve . January 22, 2013.
4. News: McCarron . Meghan . It's Not My Job to Clean Up Ken's Mess . 28 October 2022 . Eater . June 14, 2018.
5. News: Bullock . Maggie . Gabrielle Hamilton and Ashley Merriman Dreamed of Writing the Second Chapter in the #MeToo Story Instead, they got scorched. . 28 October 2022 . The Cut . October 14, 2018.
6. News: O'Hara . Andres . Gabrielle Hamilton & Ashley Merriman Pull Out Of Spotted Pig Deal . 28 October 2022 . Gothamist . September 11, 2018.
7. News: Ossola . Alexandra . The women behind one of NYC's top restaurants on why building culture is easier than changing it . 28 October 2022 . Quartz . March 12, 2019.
8. News: National Arts Club hires Ashley Merriman as executive chef . 28 October 2022 . The Village Sun . March 25, 2021.