Chef Mariana Ascoli
Private Chef in Houston
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Dinner Parties, Catering & Weekly Meal Prep
Born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Chef Mariana is incredibly creative and passionate about food and traveling. She got a certificate in Business Management in Australia before graduating in Fashion Design in Brazil.
Later on she moved to the US and shifted her career to the food industry and worked in renowned plant- based restaurants and french fine- dining concepts.
Chef Ascoli was lucky enough to learn from award winners and Michelin star chefs in Houston and currently provides her clients with amazing unique tailored menus and specializes in curating experiences for memorable dinner parties.
Mariana´s menus reflect a lot of her lifestyle and professional experience, and carry a selection of premium ingredients and the most loved dishes she has created in her years as a private chef.
Her cuisine is mostly wellness driven and veggie forward, and her menus are inspired in places she has visited during her many travels, art exhibitions and culture, as well as the daily life in 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 father cooking and later learned hands-on from award winner chefs in Michelin star French fine dining concepts in Houston.
A cooking secret...
is discipline and mindfulness.
My menus
Winter Burrata Salad – Creamy burrata with roasted beets, blood orange, pistachio crumble & honey-thyme vinaigrette
Lobster Bisque – Velvety shellfish reduction with cognac cream and chive oil
Smoked Salmon Mille-Feuille _ layers of smoked salmon, herbed mascarpone in between puff pastry crisps, topped with lemon pearls
Galette d’Autunno — with shaved carrots, orange glaze, sage, mascarpone
Herb-Roasted Cornish Hen – Glazed baby carrots, wild rice pilaf & thyme-gravy jus
Pan-Seared Sea Bass with Lemon-Caper Beurre Blanc – On cauliflower purée with asparagus & crispy shallots
Braised Short Rib with Celeriac Purée Slow _ in red wine jus, served with roasted root vegetables & micro herbs
Kabocha Squash Risotto with Sage Brown Butter (Vegetarian)
Prime Rib au Jus _ with rosemary potato pave and roasted balsamic Brussels or bacon wrapped asparagus
Chianti Short Rib Ragu (homemade)Pappardelle
Poached Pears in Red Wine & Spices — with mascarpone and dusted pistachio
Apple Tart Tatin With Vanilla Ice Cream and Bandy Caramel
Chocolate Pots de Crème
Orange and Cranberry Panna Cotta
Fig and Goat Cheese Cheesecake with golden berries caviar
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Misty Point Oyster with Horseradish Mignonette
French Charcuterie Board_ selection of cheeses, wine pepper jam, cured meats, prosciutto wrapped bread stick, terrine with artisan cracker, cornichons, fresh and dried fruits
Modern Wedge Salad with Blue Cheese Dressing
Filet Mignon or Ribeye (client's choice) & Poached Lobster Tail _ served with preserved lemon butter
Aglio e Olio Pappardelle or Truffled Mashed Potatoes
Bacon Wrapped French Beans
Chocolate Lava Cake with Berries and Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
Apple Pie With Bandy Caramel
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Ceviche Con Leche de Tigre and Plantain Chips
Elote Verrine _ with poached lobster tail, lime- crema and espelette pepper
Grilled Vegetable Tostada with Achiote Aioli _ Charred zucchini, corn, and hearts of palm stacked over a crispy tortilla, brushed with achiote aioli and topped with microgreens and lime salt
Grilled Strip Steak al Mojo Verde _ served alongside roasted yucca and blistered tomatoes
Chicken a la Plancha with Mexican Farro- Succotash
Chilean Sea Bass with tamarindo- arbol sauce atop grilled plantain garnished with micro cilantro
Pork Chops with Apricot Mustard atop Smoked Sweet Corn Purée
Moqueca _ Brazilian style seafood stew in coconut milk served with wild rice and charred asparagus (contain coconut and walnut)
Chili Relleno in Chili infused Oil — served with butter bean mash and asparagus (vegetarian)
Three Layers Panna Cotta _ Latte, Coconut- Vanilla, Espresso Caramel
Chocolate Mousse with Passion Fruit Coulis
Deep fried tekila infused churros I Pinneaple- coconut jam I Dehydrated golden berries
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Arancini with sun- dried tomato pesto and micro greens
Brusqueta D’Ascoli — customizable signature with black garlic, basil gremolata, petit tomatoes, and dehydrated capers
Galette d’Autunno — with shaved carrots, orange glaze, sage, mascarpone
The Cheese Lovers Board — delice de Bourgogne, oveja vieja, gorgonzola dolce, texas honeycomb & fig preserve, pomegranate jewels, dried apricots, marcona almond. olive-oil crostini and mini grapes
Burrata Salad_ with creamy balsamic and seasonal fruits and greens
Manchego and Pear Salad with pecans, mustard dressing an peppery greens
Garden Salad_ gem lettuce, watermelon radishes, sugar peas, cucumber ribbons, pomegranate vinaigrette, lavash
Chestnut Tagliatelle with Porcini & Sage — Drizzled with Olio Verde
Feta & Spinach Smoky Eggplant Involtini — in Romesco sauce (cashew ricotta optional for plant-based)
Cauliflower Steak with Paris Sauce — served atop sweet potato or potato latkes (contains dairy cream in sauce) and broccolini
Risotto d’Autunno — Arborio rice slow-stirred with roasted butternut squash purée, crispy sage, and a touch of Parmigiano-Reggiano, it’s finished with brown-butter drizzle
Portobello Steaks in Chili infused Oil — served with butter bean mash and asparagus
Meatlessballs & Tagliatelle in Demi Sec and Picholinni Sauce
Butternut Squash and Gorgonzola Ravioli — Brown Butter- Sage Sauce
Honey Yogurt Panna Cotta with Fig & Thyme Compote
Open Cannoli_ layered dough and fig- mascarpone cream, orange syrup and shaved bittersweet chocolate
Classic Cheesecake with Very Berry Reduction (Vegan- GF optional)
Chocolate Pots de Crème
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Bruschetta Trio- Picholini Olives & Tomato, Caramelized Shallots & Asparagus, Prosciutto and Mascarpone
Lobster Tail Mini Tart _ with yuzu- creme fraiche, caviar and dill oil
Shrimp and Sweet Corn Coulis Verrine _ topped with micro ciilantro
Harvest Salad_ baby gem lettuce, feta, roasted delicata squash, caramelized pecans, apple slices and strawberries
Insalata di Mare_ grilled Octopus, cucumbers, arugula, celery, orange segments, yuzu- creme fraiche, champagne vinaigrette, dill and beet microgreens served with castelvetrano olive ciabatta
Burrata Salad _ baby arugula, black figs, balsamic reduction, basil and almond gremolata
Fillet Mignon Rossini_ wine sauce, potato fondant and prosciutto wrapped French beans
Chicken and Prosciutto Involtini in Creamy Garlic- Tarragon Sauce _ Asiago Polenta Rounds and Sautéed Mushrooms
Pan Seared Sea Bass _ with tangerine beurre blanc, mashed potato and salmon roe
Wild King Salmon with Demi Sec Tomato _ Potato Pave and Broccolini
Pan Seared Sea Scallops. Lemon and Peas Risotto. Pecorino Romano tuille
Chianti Short-Rib Ragu Homemade Pappardelle (chef's specialty)
Cardamon Creme Brûlée with Dehydrated Peaches
Goat Cheese Cheesecake _ with black figs golden berries caviar
Espresso Panna Cotta
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Asparagus and Faro Lemony Warm Salad with baby green leafy, soy-citrus vinaigrette, pine nuts and shaved parmesan
Garden Salad_ gem lettuce, watermelon radishes, sugar peas, cucumber ribbons, pomegranate vinaigrette, lavash
Burrata Salad _ lemon verbena compote, seasonal fruits, almonds gremolata
Linguine Frutti di Mare__ slow dried, bronze cut Italian pasta with calamari, mussels and shrimp
Chicken Francese__ truffled mashed potatoes and charred asparagus
Chimichurri Steak__ wild rice or baby roasted potatoes and mushrooms topped with shaved parm and micro greens
Creamy Limoncello Italian Ricotta Cake
Chocolate Mousse with Berries and Cream
Espresso Panna Cotta
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Velouté d’Asperges et Poireaux (Vegan)_ asparagus & leeks velvety soup, crispy shiitake and capers, dill-infused olive oil
Soupe à l’Oignon Gratinée Slow-caramelized sweet onions, beef broth, baguette croûte, Gruyère gratinée
Moules Marinières Mussels steamed with shallots, garlic, parsley, white wine & butter
Plateau de Fromages Français Brie, Camembert & Comté Fig compote, cornichons, fresh baguette
Salade Verte à la Française Baby gem lettuce and frisée, fines herbs, comte cheese, Dijon vinaigrette, shaved radish
Smoked Salmon Mille-Feuille Crisp puff pastry layers, cold-smoked salmon, lemon-dill crème fraîche, chives
Boeuf Bourguignon Classique Red-wine braised beef, lardons, pearl onions, mushrooms. Served with shaved eggs and pommes paille
Pan-Seared Scallops Cava butter sauce, potato gratin dauphinois, sautéed broccolini
Frenched Rack of Lamb en Croûte d’Amande Aligot potatoes, herb pistou
Filet Mignon Rossini Seared foie gras, black truffle jus, pommes purée
Branzino Rôti au Citron _ Ratatouille, white-wine reduction, crisp fennel & micro beets
Duck Breast à l’Orange Rouge_ Seared duck breast, glazed rainbow carrots, red-wine reduction, pickled romanesco
Crème Brûlée Classique_ Madagascar vanilla bean, caramelized sugar crust
Berry Clafoutis_ strawberries & blackberries, warm vanilla custard
Apple Tart Tatin a la Mode
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