Matty Matheson's latest restaurant opens this week. From the archives: the life (and near-death) of the bad-boy chef
. Lately, though, it’s just as likely you’ve noticed him building his brand away from the kitchen. He interviewed Stephen Harper during a campaign stop in Whitby last fall—the only accredited press member with body ink spilling out from his collar and sleeves. Or perhaps you caught his modelling debut for Holt Renfrew in their fall 2015 campaign. There was also a recent photo shoot for the Coveteur, the style blog that generally features spindly actresses and fashion-world it girls.
Vice Canada’s head of content, Patrick McGuire, has a slightly different take: “We basically just ripped off what you already see on food television. It’s just that when you put Matty in the driver’s seat, it becomes something totally different.” McGuire started working with Matheson in the spring of 2013, back when the former was a rookie producer and the latter was establishing himself as the John Belushi of the Toronto food scene.
Despite his status as a troublemaker, he was always popular. “Matt was friends with everyone,” says his wife, Trish Spencer, who started dating her future husband when they were in their teens. Spencer was initially reluctant, but her older sister encouraged her to go out with “the funniest guy in the world.” Their first kiss happened at a summer music festival while they were drunk and high on mushrooms. Their first proper date took place over Robo Mart tacos and subs.
In 2006, Matheson was hired at La Palette, the Kensington Market bistro that was the nucleus of the restaurant industry party scene at the time. “It wasevery day,” says Matheson, referring to Anthony Bourdain’s bestselling tell-all that laid bare the sex, drugs and everything else that goes on behind the scenes in the restaurant industry. Matheson would wake up around 11 a.m., get to work at noon and crack his first beer a few minutes later.
As much as the food, though, Matheson himself was gaining notoriety. Parts and Labour was known as “Matty’s place,” even though he had no financial stake in the business. In the winter of 2011, he threw the first annual Matty Fest, a three-day bender concert series where he was host, guest of honour and the guy most likely to get so fucked up that he forgot the entire thing. Tickets cost $10, and Matheson used the proceeds to fly in a bunch of his metalhead friends from around the country.
In the spring of 2013, McGuire, who had been to a few parties with Matheson, pitched him on a web series calledThe formula was simple. One night, he would get crazy, obnoxious, pull-your-pants-down-on-camera drunk and bring one of his Canadian chef buddies along for the ride. The next day, the chef would concoct a hangover cure at home, and Matheson would test its efficacy, often while he got smashed all over again. The product was rough, but Matheson’s onscreen magnetism was undeniable.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Officials: 146 dead after Halloween crowd surge in SeoulOfficials say people were crushed to death after a large crowd began pushing forward in a narrow alley near Hamilton Hotel, a major party spot in Seoul
Read more »
Driver suffers life-threatening injuries in collision near Wakefield: MRC policeA person suffered life\u002Dthreatening injuries in a single\u002Dvehicle collision west of Wakefield on Saturday, police say.
Read more »
Collision near Wakefield, driver suffers life-threatening injuries: MRC policeA person suffered life\u002Dthreatening injuries in a single\u002Dvehicle collision west of Wakefield on Saturday, police say.
Read more »
Iranian students defy protest ultimatum despite crackdown across countryIranians from all walks of life have been protesting since the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in the custody of the morality police
Read more »
The 1975’s Matty Healy Says ‘I F**king Hate Metallica’: ‘My Worst Band Of All Time’The 1975's Matty Healy is not a fan of Metallica, and doesn't care who knows it. The singer spoke to Pitchfork, and admitted that he is absolutely a Kate Bush fan, but does not like Metallica. Both shot back into the charts earlier this year after the new season of 'Stranger Things' dropped. [readmore label='READ…
Read more »
Police seek suspects in west-end stabbing that sends teen to hospitalA teenage boy is in hospital with serious injuries following a stabbing in Toronto’s west end.
Read more »