Ariel Voorhees, Founding Chef
Katie Hlavacek, Personal Chef
Ashley Cyr, Personal Chef
Raya Foldi, Personal Chef
From the Founding Chef
My name is Ariel Voorhees, and I know how hard the weeknight grind can be.
For fourteen years I battled a long commute and a demanding job as a teacher. My spouse works long hours to preserve democracy.
For me, family life often felt like solving a riddle at a full sprint.
Meanwhile, I’m grateful for the lessons I learned around my childhood dinner table. Try new things. Eat the veggies. Share your day’s joys and trials. A family gathers at home.
To give my children the healthy food habits and stability that I got at home, I had to find a way to juggle all the balls.
As a working parent with my own busy family, I’ve made it a priority and a habit to gather my family together around the table.
And it’s not just about gathering… I know how to do it in a way that eliminates everyone’s stress, most importantly mine.
Now that I’ve figured it out, my family and I have dinner together every night. I cook a wide range of meals that are seasonal, worldly, and fresh. My kids eat [almost] everything.
I know how important it is to have family dinner every night, and that’s why I built Gather Round: to help busy families in the Burlington area and Vermont’s Route 100 corridor do the same thing.
Katie Hlavacek,
Personal Chef
Katie is passionate about creating nourishing, flavorful meals tailored to a wide range of dietary needs. She trained as a Natural Foods Chef at the Nutrition Therapy Institute in Denver, where she developed a strong foundation in holistic nutrition and therapeutic cooking.
She previously owned a prepared meals and private catering business in Colorado, selling at farmers markets and building meaningful connections within her community and local food systems. Her background also includes extensive experience in hospitality, menu design, food styling, and event management.
With roots in the Adirondacks and Vermont, Katie brings a deep connection to the region and its ingredients into her work. Her culinary style is grounded in seasonal, local, and thoughtfully prepared food.
Ashley Cyr,
Personal Chef
Ashley Cyr is a passionate chef dedicated to bringing fresh, flavorful, and stress-free meals to busy families and professionals. She loves creating delicious meals that make life a little easier.
A native Vermonter, Ashley was trained at New England Culinary Institute in Montpelier. She has extensive culinary and pastry experience in the Green Mountains, most recently with local favorites Black Cap Cafe and Spruce Peak Resort. With a ServSafe Certification in Allergen Safety, she is particularly adept at tailoring her dishes to each client’s preferences and dietary needs.
Ashley is excited to provide wholesome, satisfying meals that bring comfort, convenience, and enjoyment to every table.
Raya Foldi,
Personal Chef
Raya Foldi is a Burlington-based chef whose career has taken her through some of the city’s favorite kitchens, such as May Day, Majestic, and Adventure Dinner, working her way up from line cook roles to pastry and private chef work.
With a calm and unfussy approach toward cooking, she strives to create food that feels vibrant, thoughtful and approachable. Currently the pastry chef at a local Italian restaurant, Raya is comfortable working across a wide range of cuisines and cooking styles.
In her spare time, you can find her hanging with close friends or posted up in a hammock with a book and a sandwich.
Ready to gather your family around the table?
