Matthew lightner chef biography

THE PIONEER

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Manhattan Star Chef. Born in 1980.

After graduating with high honours from the Western Culinary Institute in 2001, Matthew Lightner pursued culinary excellence in some of the world’s finest kitchens.

From Copenhagen’s renowned “World’s Best Restaurant” Noma to California’s L’Auberge, alongside James Beard award-winning chef Paul McCabe, Matt grew roots in the ideologies of season and place.

In 2007, as one of only fifteen chefs awarded the Young Chefs Culinary Scholarship in Spain, he met his mentor, Andoni Aduriz at Mugaritz. There, Matt gained a very natural perspective on modern cooking which built the foundations for the cuisine that garnered him accolades at Castagna in Portland, OR.

In 2010, Matt was named one of Food & Wine’s “Best New Chefs in America”, he received nominations for Rising Star Chef by the James Beard Foundation in both 2010 and 20