Hey there! We’re Ashley and Shaun, the creators of Accommodating Chef and parents to an amazing little guy who keeps us on our toes with his food allergies. We met in college and have been inseparable ever since. Shaun’s always had a thing for good food—seriously, it’s in his blood! His grandparents owned a well-known restaurant in Quebec City, so you could say he’s carrying on the family tradition. He’s the head chef in our house, constantly whipping up new and exciting dishes that keep us guessing and satisfied.
Ashley? Well, she’s naturally more of a PB&J and microwave meal level cook, but she’s slowly leveled up to sous-chef status, thanks to Shaun’s culinary adventures. Together, we have our awesome son, Ryder (not his real name, but we like to keep his privacy intact). Ryder has a life-threatening food allergy to dairy, along with sensitivities to wheat and soy, so let’s just say meal planning is an adventure in itself.
When Ryder was little, he often had his own “safe” meals, which wasn’t super fun for any of us. It was twice as much work, and Ryder often felt left out. Our initial goal was for Ryder to be able to experience the foods we love that he might never be able to enjoy. But over time, we figured out how to adapt our favorite dishes into allergy-friendly versions that the whole family can enjoy. Sure, eating out at most restaurants is a no-go, but that just means we’ve learned to bring global flavors into our home in a way that keeps Ryder safe and happy.
That’s how The Accommodating Chef blog was born! We’re here to share our journey and recipes with the world. All of our recipes are dairy-free, but we’ll always let you know whether they include or are safe from the top 9 food allergens—or if there are recommendations on how to adapt the recipe to avoid your allergens. Our goal is to help other families like ours navigate the challenges of food allergies—while still enjoying delicious, safe meals.
Ryder
Ryder is the heart and inspiration behind The Accommodating Chef. (Okay, so “Ryder” isn’t his real name, but we like to keep him incognito!) He’s a fun-loving, creative kid learning to navigate life with multiple food allergies and intolerances, including a life-threatening dairy allergy.
He’s also our biggest cheerleader and our harshest critic in the kitchen, always keeping us on our toes! Every day, he brings us so much joy, and our goal is to open the world up to him as much as possible—especially through flavors and cuisines from around the globe—while always accommodating his unique needs.
Ashley
Meet Ashley, the family’s resident sous-chef, food allergy sleuth, and Shaun’s partner in all things culinary and beyond! When their son Ryder was diagnosed with multiple food allergies and intolerances (including a life-threatening dairy allergy), she dove headfirst into learning everything she could to keep him safe while making sure he could still enjoy all the good things in life.
From exploring allergy-friendly products to finding new ways to avoid cross-contamination, Ashley is always on the hunt for the latest food allergy insights.
When she’s not in the kitchen with Shaun or on a food allergy deep dive for the Accommodating Chef, Ashley’s teaching reading as a literacy interventionist, attempting to find her zen with yoga, getting lost in a good book, or doing everything possible to avoid cold weather.
Shaun
Shaun is the self-taught head chef and creative force of the family. With a lifelong passion for bold, exotic flavors, he’s spent years experimenting in the kitchen, always eager to surprise and delight with his culinary creations.
When Ryder was born, Shaun couldn’t wait to travel together and sample local cuisines from around the world. But when Ryder’s food allergies and the need to avoid cross-contamination with dairy became clear, Shaun didn’t let that dream go. Instead, he got creative—adapting his recipes to make them safe and just as delicious for Ryder because, to him, food should always bring people together.
His two greatest passions are working his magic in the kitchen and going on long bike/longboard trips with Ryder.
