Chef Jon Ashton has joined Parade Publications as contributing editor. He will also serve as host of the “dash Around the Table Tour,” a multi-city live cooking show developed by dash, Parade’s food publication.

The 2012 “dash Around the Table Tour” kicks off in June and will visit 10 cities in collaboration with Parade’s newspaper partners.

“We’re happy to welcome Jon to the team,” said editorial director, Maggie Murphy. “He has high energy and could not be more charming, but what makes Jon the perfect host for the dash cooking shows is that he shares the magazine’s mission to improve family life by taking the stress out of meal planning.”

Ashton is also the food correspondent for the syndicated morning show The Daily Buzz.