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The Instagram feed of beloved Raleigh-based chef Ashley Christensen is usually a happy place, but this morning she was forced to post a call of action to followers to keep a watchful eye out for a custom wood cooker recently stolen from her facility. The cooker was a gift to Christensen from Jim 'N Nick's founder Nick Pihakis after she won the 2014 James Beard Award for "Best Chef: Southeast." Below is her plea to the people of North Carolina (and the rest of the South) to be on the lookout.
A CALL TO ALL OF MY PALS, PLEASE SHARE: To the miserable pieces of sh*t who did thousands of dollars of damage breaking into our facility to steal one of the most special gifts that has ever been given to me... I dare you drive this cooker down the road, or break it out at a party. It is fully custom, and we’ll be looking for ya. This was a gift from one of my mentors Nick Pihakis in celebration of us winning the James Beard Award. Though it’s one of a kind, we have insurance. To the low lifes who stole the cooker: Stop looking for where the propane tank goes... it’s a hard-wood cooker (I know, what a bummer... you can’t even steal nice things these days ). The really sad thing? We mostly use this cooker to cook for charitable causes. PALS, PLEASE KEEP AN EYE OUT, AND HELP ME TAKE THIS MESSAGE VIRAL. #godspeed
Christensen has several establishments in downtown Raleigh (Poole’s Diner, Beasley’s Chicken + Honey, Fox Liquor Bar, Joule Coffee, and Death & Taxes). Those in the area should be on alert for the unique cooker.
Unfortunately, chefs are no stranger to thieves swiping items from their restaurants, like Alinea's napkins, random alligator skulls, or Michelin star plaques. Someone even once stole the iconic pig from The Spotted Pig — who does that?
