COMPETITOR

Hell or High Water Brewing

HEAD COOK: Matthew Lawson

COMPETITION: World Chef Championship

Growing up in Dripping Springs, the heart of the beautiful Texas Hill Country, Matthew Lawson was introduced to and acquired a palette at a very young age for farm fresh produce and meats. From raising show animals in the FFA, or gardening with his father, Matt learned to appreciate fresh ingredients and use all that was provided. Directly out of High School Matt accepted a position working for nationally syndicated talk show host and best-selling author Dave Ramsey. While up in Middle Tennessee, Matt attended Middle Tennessee State University with a focus on Entrepreneurship and Business. In 2007 Matt decided to further his education as well as pursue a dream of becoming a Chef by attending Texas Culinary Academy Le Cordon Bleu. After graduating top of his class and being voted class representative, Matt accepted an offer to work for the world-famous Walt Disney World in the culinary program at Artist Point in the Wilderness Lodge (Pacific Northwest fine dining cuisine). Walt Disney World has proven to be the base foundation as well as the expectation for how food, beverage, and hospitality should be through any business or restaurant. Upon leaving Walt Disney World, Matt made a few tour spots throughout the United States including the position as Private Executive Chef for a Forbes Top 25 family in Ridgefield, CT, F&B Director and Executive Chef at The Prestigious Mayo Hotel in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Chef for the Houston Astro Organization, Executive Chef and General Manager of Food and Beverage inside Cinnamon Shore. Nowadays, Chef Matt works alongside his beautiful wife Marcie as owner/operator of Reef Hospitality Management a food and beverage consulting company that has the honor of working with amazing restaurants, bars, and breweries like Hell or High Water Brewing in Liberty Hill, Texas.