Community Highlights: Meet Ashley Battle of Talk & Chew

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Battle.

Hi Ashley, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I started baking and cooking at a young age. I fell in love with being in the kitchen creating different recipes for anyone to try. I started selling plates to my family and my moms coworkers around the age of 12. Then I gravitated into baking desserts, and started selling them as well. When I reached my junior year in high school I made my mind up that I wanted a career in the culinary field. Once I graduated from high school I went on to attend Nash Community College where I majored in Culinary Arts. I then transferred to The Art Institute of Raleigh-Durham where I completed 1 yr before dropping out. Many years went by where I was stagnant, and not pursuing my dreams. I went back to working in the factory workforce. I gave up on my dreams thinking that they would never happen and I would never finish school. I was lost and torn, not knowing what I wanted to do with my life. Fast forward to 2020 when covid came around, I was pursued by a friend to start back selling plates. I did just that and fell back into baking too. I lost my factory job later that year and I started working for myself full-time, and this is what I’ve been doing ever since. I also enrolled back into college and finally got my Culinary degree in 2023 at Nash Community College. My small business has been thriving and I couldn’t be any more proud of where I am today.

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?
I’ve made poor decisions in the past that strayed me away from my dreams and made life more difficult. I stated that I had completely given up on my dreams. At one point I was really stuck not knowing what to do with my life. I had my two babies depending on me and I didn’t know which way to go. Any journey you take won’t always be smooth, and to this day there are struggles that I face but I look at it as being a part of the plan.

As you know, we’re big fans of Talk & Chew. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Talk & Chew is a baking and catering business. I mainly bake and decorate custom cakes, and make desserts. On my social media pages I also post tutorials, recipes, and tips that could help anyone wanting to learn. I’m most proud of my growth. Sometimes I sit back and look at pictures of things I’ve made in the past and compare them to my current work and it leaves me in awe. As my business has grown I am available for cakes of any kind, desserts, treats, charcuterie, catering, and I also serve lunch at Church St Tap and Deli in Tarboro NC, Wednesday through Friday so come check me out, and so much more!

Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I think my “luck” is more of grace and favor from God. At times I doubt myself or I may make a mistake, and instead of quitting or giving up on any situation I find myself in, it always works out or God shows me that this is where I’m supposed to be. Its mandatory that I keep God at the head of my business.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_talk_and_chew_
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/15zPkZR7RP/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TalkandChew
• Other: Booktalkandchew@gmail.com