Kevin Ashton, a restaurant chef, was accustomed to cooking for large groups, but his clientele has evolved.

Ashton works as a chef for the Pi Beta Phi chapter at the University of Nevada, Reno, and prepares meals for almost 30 sorority ladies each week. Ashton tells PEOPLE that he cooks nine meals each week, four dinners and five lunches, one of which is typically a large brunch buffet for the girls on Fridays.

“I make a budget and divide it into nine meals before going shopping. Ashton tells PEOPLE that she shops every day because it is easier for her and since each meal is unique.

“Every morning on my way to work, I pause, gather the necessary ingredients, and head inside to cook. I also work on my videos. The next day, we begin anew, visit the store, and purchase everything I require.”

While Ashton loves to purchase on the day of, he must prepare his daily meal ahead of time, allowing the girls to provide comments. If they don’t like what’s on the menu that day, they can order something else, such as a burger or a salad.

“There’s always something to eat,” he adds, noting that he’s learned which meals are popular in the family and which are often skipped.

“After a few weeks, I discovered that someone avoids hot foods or prefers salads and never eats meat. It helps me develop menus that are more accessible,” he explains. “I pay attention to them.”

Ashton even has a suggestion box for the females in the house to ensure that he is catering to their tastes. However, most of his meals are popular with the public, and guests frequently request dishes that he has previously prepared for them.

Before joining the sorority, Ashton worked as a restaurant cook for more than 30 years, including 20 years in an Italian restaurant. Previously, he worked at a brewery, a butcher shop, and a steakhouse.

However, when the COVID-19 epidemic struck and eateries shuttered, Ashton had to take a step back. With restaurant kitchens closed, he started recording movies of cooking at home, creating his own schedule and producing whatever felt delicious that day.

When things reopened and he was invited to return to the restaurant, he opted to retire, but he continued to create cooking material while reflecting on the next chapter of his life.

An alumna from the University of Nevada, Reno, noticed one of his films and contacted him, asking if he was interested in working as a sorority house chef.

While it was a significant change from his prior work, he enjoyed having creative control over the food and the fact that he would have holiday and summer holidays while the pupils were not in class.

So he agreed to try it for a semester. That happened four years ago.

The work also introduced him to a new realm of content production, as he posts recordings of his weekly dinners. Ashton, who now has over 5 million followers, seems to constantly have something new to share, from fresh fish to fried chicken and pasta bakes.

Ashton not only enjoys his career, but he also enjoys the exciting, ever-changing surroundings.

“These girls are fantastic, inspiring, and very philanthropic.” They’re always giving back, and they hold fundraising events,” he explains. “They’ve had a lot of fundraising events where I’ve had the opportunity to cook or assist in some capacity.” I’m really impressed with how they give back to the entire community.”