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Chef Victor Matthews, Four Stars since 1997
After extensive work in various Fine Dining Establishments,
including training under four Master Level Chefs, Chef
Matthews opened his first restaurant as Executive Chef
in 1997. This was the Chef's Table Restaurant in New
Orleans, where after only 3 months he was rated at Four
Stars. Alas, he did not own this property, and eventually
chose to move on to better options.
Chef Victor brings his extensive experience and training
under the masters to the Black Bear Restaurant, which he
owns and operates to maintain the finest dining possible.
The Black Bear continuously receives the highest ratings
from industry experts - a tribute to Chef Victor's
dedication to innovative and crative dining!
Chef Victors Mentors:
First,
there was Jim Hallett:
Jim was the Sous Chef at my first serious fine dining restaurant.
He was an awesome panslinger who had graduated Johnson
and Wales and worked in Washington and New York. I had
already been cooking a few years, but didn't really know
the finer points of Haute Cuisine. Chef Hallett gave
me books, long talks, and in the end, he lit the fire
of creativity that inspired me to move to New Orleans
and go for broke.
Then it was New Orleans at the Grande Dame of them all...Arnaud's.
Founded almost a hundred years ago by Count Arnaud, and
taking up an entire block of the French Quarter, we could
do over a thousand covers there, and did on many occasions
(1400 on New Year's Eve). At the time the Executive
Chef was Kevin Davis, and while not being a "Master Chef",
he was definitely a master of French Creole Cuisine; and
during my difficult and grueling time there, initiated
me by fire into a new world of Fine Dining Kitchens. Interestingly,
a man whom I always respected for his talent and professionalism,
Tommy DiGiovanni, is now in charge of those kitchens. He
is extremely good, and I would highly recommend a visit.
After Arnaud's, and some Floorstaff Training, I headed
to Graham's...
Kevin Graham, Master Five-Star
British Chef, rated Number One in America SEVERAL times during
the nineties. It was
Kevin Graham that made the Windsor Court into the unstoppable
powerhouse Five-Diamond location that it became, and when
he left to open his own venue, I was lucky enough to cook
on the line. He and his Executive Sous Chef Anita continued
my indoctrination into the harsh realities of Haute Cuisine,
and I learned more in those months than ever before.
Italian Master Chef Andrea Apuzzo.
Hands down one of the most important Italian Chefs in all
of American History. I am also proud to call him a friend.
Besides introducing many dishes that we now consider standards,
AND maintaining a Five Star Rating for DECADES, he has
received every culinary award possible, including hereditary
title and lands in Italy. It was Andrea who opened my eyes
to the wonders and flexibility of Italian Cuisine, and
later introduced me to Gunter Preuss.
German Master Chef Gunter Preuss.
What is there to say to the most highly decorated Chef
in Lousiana history, who at one point maintained NINE stars
in New Orleans, and gave me my first appointment as an
actual "chef"? Except THANK YOU. Gunter Preuss
taught me a deep respect for the cuisine; a reverence for
history and food that I will never loose. I still make
the fabulous world-famous Bouillabaisse that he taught
me, just the two of us, early one morning in a quiet kitchen.
I still cut every vegetable at that same angle and thickness....and
I ALWAYS will. The Classics are the backbone of all modern
invention, and without the respect for classic techniques
and ideas that was my gift from Chef Preuss, I could never
have done anything. Maybe it is old-fashioned to care about
those who taught you, to remain forever grateful, well
then...I am old-fashioned
Mentoring from Marc Hollger
While at Brussard's I was also fortunate enough to serve
as Saucier to Marc Hollger, the retired Chef to King Olav
of Sweden. But the rest is, as they say, history. With
the invaluable experience and expertise imparted to me
by these Masters, I became a highly paid Food and Beverage
Consultant. But in 1996 I was called back to New Orleans
by Mark Uddo to open the Chef's Table Restaurant as Executive
Chef. We did well, garnering Four Stars in only 3 months,
and at the age of 29 that made me the youngest Four Star
Executive Chef in Louisiana History. I became good friends
with Mark, whom I respected highly, but due to situations
beyond his control I was forced to leave that location.
And unfortunately, recently the Chef's Table was forced
to close (again, a situation beyond the control of Mark's
hard work, talent and determination). In any case, I travelled
to Houston and helped run the kitchens of the Omni Hotel's
Flagship Restaurant with my good friend (and Pastry Master)
Dwayne Fortier, while also working at the Number One Italian
Restaurant in Texas (as voted by native Italians), Arcodoro.
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