Matty Matheson

Early Life and Background

Matty Matheson was born in Saint John, New Brunswick to engineer Stephen Matheson and waitress Joan Matheson. His family lived in Nova Scotia until he was 11 years old, at which point they relocated to Fort Erie, Ontario. During his childhood in Nova Scotia, Matheson was raised as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but the family left the church upon moving to Ontario. His culinary roots trace back to his grandfather, a restaurateur and former RCMP officer from Prince Edward Island who owned The Blue Goose restaurant in DeSable. Matheson spent his summers working at this establishment, which provided his early exposure to the restaurant industry. In 2000, he moved to Toronto and enrolled in Humber College's cooking program, though he dropped out before graduating to work as a roadie for a friend's metal band. He later resumed his culinary career by leveraging a natural talent for butchering meat and securing work through persistent job applications.

Culinary Career and Restaurant Empire

Matheson's professional cooking career began in earnest in 2003 at Toronto's Le Sélect Bistro under chef Rang Nguyen, who taught him French techniques. He later worked at La Palette before becoming the executive chef at the celebrated Toronto restaurant Parts & Labour in 2010, a position he held until its closure in 2019. His entrepreneurial journey started in 2015 with the creation of Maker Pizza, a partnership with Shlomo Buchler that expanded to multiple locations in the Greater Toronto Area. Following the closure of Parts & Labour, Matheson launched a series of successful ventures. He opened the permanent location of Matty's Patty's Burger Club in Toronto's Trinity-Bellwoods neighbourhood in December 2020. In April 2022, he realized a long-held ambition by opening the upscale Prime Seafood Palace steakhouse in the same area. Other notable openings include the Vietnamese restaurant Ca Phe Rang with mentor Rang Nguyen in January 2022, and Rizzo's House of Parm, an Italian-American restaurant in Fort Erie, in November 2022. His latest venture, Iron Cow Public House, opened in Hamilton, Ontario in December 2025. All these restaurants operate under his umbrella company, Our House Hospitality Company.

Media Presence and Television Work

Matheson's boisterous personality first caught public attention through appearances on Vice Media's online show Munchies. This led to hosting roles on Viceland television series It's Suppertime! and Dead Set on Life. He maintains a highly popular YouTube channel where he shares cooking videos and personal moments, such as a 2026 clip featuring his son MacArthur. His most significant acting role came in 2022 when he joined the cast of the FX on Hulu series The Bear. He portrayed the handyman Neil Fak and also served as an executive producer and culinary consultant on the show until its conclusion in 2026. This role significantly increased his public profile, making him a household name beyond the food world. His media work extends to other appearances, including on Jimmy Kimmel Live! where he demonstrated a family recipe for stuffed shells.

Business Ventures and Publications

Beyond restaurants, Matheson has diversified his business interests considerably. In 2020, he partnered with chef Keenan McVey to open Blue Goose Farm in Fort Erie, Ontario, named after his grandfather's restaurant. The farm supplies produce to his restaurants and others in Toronto. He launched the workwear clothing line Rosa Rugosa in 2022, with production based in Toronto's Parkdale neighbourhood. Matheson has also developed his own line of kitchen utensils and cookware. As an author, he has published three cookbooks: Matty Matheson: A Cookbook in 2018, Matty Matheson: Home Style Cookery in 2020, and Matty Matheson: Soups, Salads, Sandwiches in 2024. In March 2020, he co-founded the Powerful Truth Angels podcast with artist Alex 2Tone and producer Jason Nelken. Demonstrating his varied interests, Matheson announced the formation of a hardcore punk band called Pig Pen in 2025, featuring Wade MacNeil and Daniel Romano, which debuted at Toronto's Sneaky Dee's venue.

Personal Life and Health

Matheson lives in Fort Erie, Ontario with his wife Trish and their three children. He has been open about his past struggles with substance abuse, which began with trying cocaine in grade 11. His regular drug use culminated in a heart attack at the age of 29. Matheson achieved sobriety at the end of 2013, and seven months later filmed his first episode for Keep It Canada. In his personal time, he is an avid motorcycle enthusiast who enjoys riding custom choppers. His family life and personal journey, including his recovery, are often referenced in his public storytelling and have contributed to his relatable public persona. The restaurant Rizzo's House of Parm is named after his first daughter and second child, Rizzo, and draws inspiration from his wife's Italian family heritage.

Public Profile and Net Worth

By 2026, Matty Matheson had become arguably the best-known chef in Toronto, with a public profile that bridges fine dining, casual food, and mainstream entertainment. His business holdings, through entities like Cassoulet Palace Inc. and Our House H.C., span restaurants, a farm, a clothing line, and cookware. According to 2026 estimates from Celebrity Net Worth, his net worth is approximately $2 million. This valuation reflects income from his television work, particularly The Bear, his numerous restaurant partnerships, his cookbook sales, and his various product lines. His career exemplifies a modern path to culinary fame, built equally on traditional kitchen skills, entrepreneurial hustle, and a masterful use of digital and television media to build a loyal following.

Questions about Matty Matheson

What is Matty Matheson's most famous restaurant?

Matty Matheson has opened several notable restaurants, but two stand out for their profile. Prime Seafood Palace, an upscale steakhouse and seafood restaurant in Toronto's Trinity-Bellwoods neighbourhood that opened in April 2022, represents his fine dining ambitions. For a more casual experience, Matty's Patty's Burger Club, a permanent takeout burger spot that opened in December 2020 in the same area, is also highly popular. His restaurant group, Our House Hospitality Company, encompasses all his ventures, including newer openings like Iron Cow Public House in Hamilton, which launched in December 2025.

How did Matty Matheson get famous?

Matty Matheson first gained recognition in the food world through his role as executive chef at Toronto's Parts & Labour restaurant and his energetic appearances on Vice Media's Munchies digital series. This led to hosting his own Viceland shows, It's Suppertime! and Dead Set on Life. His fame reached a much wider audience when he was cast as Neil Fak on the critically acclaimed FX on Hulu series The Bear in 2022, a role he played until the series ended in 2026. His work as an executive producer and culinary consultant on the show further cemented his status as a leading food personality.

Where does Matty Matheson live?

Matty Matheson lives in Fort Erie, Ontario with his wife and their three children. Despite operating numerous restaurants in Toronto, he has maintained a home and deep connections to the Fort Erie community. This is reflected in local business ventures like the Rizzo's House of Parm restaurant, which he opened in Crystal Beach, Fort Erie in November 2022, and the Blue Goose Farm he co-owns nearby. His choice to live outside the major city centre is a noted part of his personal and professional identity.

What happened to Matty Matheson's health?

Matty Matheson has been candid about his past health struggles related to substance abuse. He first tried cocaine in grade 11, and his continued use led to a serious heart attack when he was 29 years old. This life-threatening event served as a catalyst for change. He quit using drugs and alcohol at the end of 2013, achieving sobriety. He has stated that seven months after getting sober, he filmed his first episode for Keep It Canada, marking the beginning of a new chapter in both his personal life and his burgeoning media career.

What other businesses does Matty Matheson own?

Beyond his restaurants, Matheson owns or co-owns a diverse portfolio of businesses. He is a partner in Blue Goose Farm, a vegetable farm in Fort Erie that supplies his restaurants. In 2022, he started the workwear clothing line Rosa Rugosa, produced in Toronto's Parkdale neighbourhood. He also has his own lines of kitchen utensils and cookware. Furthermore, he is involved in the food company Matheson Food Company. These ventures are structured under different entities, including Cassoulet Palace Inc. and Our House H.C., which collectively form his business empire.

Is Matty Matheson in a band?

Yes, in 2025 Matty Matheson announced the formation of a hardcore punk band called Pig Pen. The band also features musicians Wade MacNeil and Daniel Romano. Pig Pen made its debut performance at the well-known Toronto music venue Sneaky Dee's on April 25, 2025. This venture into music aligns with Matheson's long-standing personal interest in punk and metal music, a passion that dates back to his youth when he briefly dropped out of culinary school to work as a roadie for a friend's metal band.

Sources: Wikipedia and current public reporting, checked by the Novello Desserts desk. Last updated 2026-10-18.