Ashton Winkler Hughes is a Mexican chef and founder of BashBites, now based in the Cotswolds.
She trained at Les Roches in Switzerland, then spent over a decade in Hong Kong, where she opened her first restaurant. She brings bold, authentic Mexican flavours to the UK, grounded in real experience and respect for tradition.
Since 2020, she has become known for supper clubs, her chilli crunch, and those “seven‑course dinner parties in a box” built a loyal foodie following. She is passionate about using locally sourced ingredients, weaving Mexican tradition with British produce to create food that feels honest, vibrant, and satisfying – bridging cultures and celebrating real flavour.
Ashton shares her unique tips and insider knowledge of the Cotswolds.
I have lived here since 2018 after looking at the most picture-perfect cottage on Rightmove in the middle of bleak January and viewing it the very next day. The roaring fire, AGA and chocolate box architecture in the tiny village had me at hello.
At home, stirring a pot, listening to Prince on my own once everyone has got to bed with the huge moon looking in at me through my kitchen window. We have no streetlights, so the stars and moon are just incredible every night.
As you drive into Burford and that deep valley comes to site. I never tire of the view; the surrounding fields covered in wildflower in the summer, and the stark dramatic winter views are just the best. I often buy strawberries from the lay-by; park and take it all in. I also love the drive into Combe in the Autumn where the trees form a tunnel of every shade of red, orange and yellow. Its pure magic.
The ancient Mill wood behind my house. In the springtime it is absolutely covered in wild garlic and bluebells, and in the autumn the mushrooms are exceptional.
A hot cup of coffee sitting very still in my garden watching the day begin. There’s a herd of deer that like to graze all around me which never ceases to impress. I find the birdsong just incredible. On the last Saturday of the month, I adore the farmers market in Deddington.
The Minster Lovell ruins are heavenly. I did internships from my hotelier college Les Roches in ML when I was only 19 and had never experienced real countryside. I would walk to the ruins on a break; no matter how hard the day was sitting somewhere so majestic always cheered me up. Now I take my son wild swimming and for picnics and its as magic as it was for me way back then.
The Bull in Charlbury, The Straw Kitchen at Whichford Pottery and The Old Butchers in Stow-on the-Wold. I also have never met a better baker than Sue from Forge House Bakery!!
Always the Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford. I just can’t get enough. Every time I visit, I find new treasures to marvel at.
My dinner table. I absolutely love laying the table, and enjoying dinner parties at home. I am like an old Mexican Jewish grandmother, and over feed (and water) whomever is around. I like inviting people who don’t know each other but I know will vibe. We always have a great time. If I am out-out which doesn’t happen much these days I love little Berenjak at Soho Farmhouse, as well as Mizu Japanese in Bicester.
Immaculate Country dressing. Unless you’re off shooting (in which case your jacket will have been mended many times, and your trusty wellies will be covered in mud…) you will rarely see the locals decked out in tweed and I always get a kick out of weekend visitors in the newest kit. When I came out from Hong Kong with my now husband; and were off on a weekend of country pursuits he made me run after our car so I would get my wax jacket and Le Chameau’s suitably mucky.
verdant, peaceful, authentic
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