Chef Bios

Executive Chef / Owner Jeremy C. Ashby

Local celebrity Chef Jeremy Ashby is a native of Kentucky. He received his culinary degree from Johnson & Wales University in Charleston, South Carolina in 2000. After pursuing additional training and experience (including working with renowned chefs Donald Barickman and Norman Van Aken) in Charleston and Miami, Executive Chef Ashby returned to his Kentucky roots. He has been an owner of AZUR since 2007. Executive chef Ashby also earned a degree in business and hospitality from the University of Kentucky. His culinary decisions are influenced by many things, not the least of which is passion for relationships and delighting people with food. "A meal should be about dining, not feeding. I like to mystify people with menus, but offer a flavor profile that comforts and tastes familiar. I love to convey a sense of place and season bringing friends to the table sharing the endless ways food becomes a common ground that ties together our lives and conversations". He is currently a national ambassador to Kentucky for the growing agricultural farm to table movement and advocate of Kentucky Aquaculture and hosts the radio program “Sunny Side Up In Lexington” and television program “Food News and Chews”. The shows are designed to promote restaurants, chefs, farmers, food and community growth in the Bluegrass region and demystify food related trends and topics. In the future, due to the emerging agriculture, wine production and Bourbon Trail, Chef Ashby would like to see the Bluegrass become a major hospitality and food destination in the South.  Chef Jeremy Ashby has also created a Farmer’s Market without fees to the growers on the south side of Lexington. The market is quickly growing and he plans on starting markets around the state of Kentucky. The goal is to further promote the unrivaled agricultural heritage of Kentucky farmers and to help create an ever growing and sustainable food economy in the Commonwealth celebrating the heirloom foods native to this region.

Chef Miguel Rivas

Chef Miguel Rivas immigrated from the Dominican Republic when he was sixteen years old.  He obtained his culinary arts degree from the New York Restaurant School in 1994.  He worked under the famous restaurateur Jean-Georges Vongerichten in both Jean-Georges' Restaurant and Vong in New York (Note: Vong closed in late 2009 after 17 years).  Chef Rivas is one of the original founders of AZUR and has been a driving force from the beginning.  The most exciting part for Chef Rivas, other than owning his own restaurant, was bringing something unique to this area.  "AZUR is very different than the other Lexington restaurants.  We have entrees that are representative of larger metropolitan areas and the décor is European-style with bare tables and bold colors."  Chef Rivas also holds a degree in hospitality management and has studied in France.