“I’ve always been a performer and people-pleaser”: Matty Matheson on soup, motorcycles and The Bear

Where did your passion for restaurants come from?
My grandfather had a restaurant called the Blue Goose on Prince Edward Island in eastern Canada. We’d go there when we were growing up and that’s where I fell in love with restaurants. I have a soft spot for them – everyone likes being taken care of, looked after with the right intentions and skills. It’s a joy to do that for somebody. I’d rather go to a restaurant than the Super Bowl. You’re in company for a few hours, you see people do what they do, being proud of it – amazing.

What do you think is important but often overlooked in running a restaurant?
You need to be singular in what you’re doing to have a successful restaurant. I think ‘try not to make everyone happy’ is a thing. My restaurants are distinct: I serve pizza; I serve Vietnamese food; I serve Italian-American cuisine. I like to focus on a particular thing, then expand what the hospitality around that looks like.

You’re known for your outgoing presenting style – where does your zest for life come from?
Have I always been an exuberant person? Yes, pretty much. I’m the middle child and have always been a performer and a people-pleaser. And I’ve always been able to rattle off a couple of stories here and there.

What brings you happiness?
I have three kids, and eating together and trying to get them to talk is special. It’s a funny thing – you ask, ‘What did you do at school today, son?’ I’m not really wanting to know but it’s important to have those moments. Everyone is running around and really busy, so having half an hour relaxing, enjoying each other, is nice.

Everything I do is for my family. They are everything. And friendship is very important. I love my friends. That’s as good as it gets. It can all go away but if you’ve got your friends and family, all is good.

Do you have any firm Christmas traditions?
On Christmas Eve we eat rappie pie. It’s an Acadian dish that my grandmother learnt from her grandmother. It came from hard times. It’s a sort of solidified potato-chicken soup-baked-casserole and it’s a big tradition in my family. On Christmas Day we have roast beef or prime rib, and roasted duck or goose. My parents make the rappie pie because it’s the oldest people in the family who make it; I do the prime rib and the fixings.

Your new cookbook is Soups, Salads, Sandwiches; is soup a comfort food for you?
Soup never makes you feel bad. I could eat Vietnamese pho every day; I could eat ramen every day; chicken noodle soup, every day. I don’t think I could eat French onion soup every day… I just like a well-made broth, what goes into it, how long it takes. It’s full of collagen and fat and brightness. It makes you feel so good.

Is it possible for you to pick a favourite sandwich?
The greatest sandwich of all time has to be a toasted tomato sandwich. Beautiful white bread, good mayonnaise, fresh sliced tomato, salt and pepper, softly toasted. There’s something ooey-gooey, delicate, simple in that sandwich, a lot of good stuff going on. We need to heal the emotions with food.

And what’s your drink of choice to go with it?
I’d have water with it. I’m an avid water drinker. Beverages are not my forte. I am a disgruntled beverage drinker. But there’s a fridge full of bubbly water, wine and beers for guests – have whatever you want.

You’re a culinary consultant and executive producer of The Bear; what’s it like also acting in the show?
It’s great being Fak in The Bear. I don’t think I’m the best actor in the world, but I get to hang out with my friends and have fun making the show. Fak is an amazing character and brings a lot of life and warmth, for sure. Am I a fixer? Me? No, my wife is the handyman. I do a few things and do them well; anything else I’m not good at!

What do you do when you’re not working?
I collect old Harleys. I love motorcycles and riding around. I’ll go on an afternoon ride today. There’s something just great about it. And my son has just gotten into bass fishing, so we do that together… I just like relaxing!

Do you have a life philosophy?
I’m really lucky that my parents always wanted us to be who we are. They gave us positive reinforcements; they are supportive through good and bad: ‘Go be idiots if you need to be idiots.’ They are very non- judgemental. I’m very happy to be the same. I think there is beauty in everybody.

Soups, Salads, Sandwiches by Matty Matheson (£25 Murdoch Books) is out now and available from Amazon and Bookshop.org. Follow Matty on Instagram and find him on YouTube. We may earn a commission when you click on a link on our site but this does not affect the price that you pay.

Browse more chats with foodie friends including Gennaro Contaldo and Poppy O’Toole.