Since we have numerous classes happening every week, it is not possible (at least for me) to write and tell you about each one as much as I would like to. So in addition to more elaborate and detailed blog posts we’re going to feature posts with mostly pictures from a class and chef’s bio’s. This week I would like to feature chef Matthew Ridgway and his charcutiere company “PorcSalt”. We had the pleasure of having Chef Matthew Ridgway host a charcutiere class at COOK last week. Matt was accompanied by infamous and chatty Rick Nichols that gave explanations and commentary while Matt was carving away his delicious creations.
Matthew Ridgway, 36, was raised in Bucks County, PA, among a family that instilled in him a deep respect for agriculture and small family farming. He officially found his culinary calling at age 12 at his cousin’s gourmet bakery in Holland, PA, where he realized the career potential of good cooking.Ridgway has worked at such prestigious restaurants as Charles Saunders’ Eastside Oyster Bar and Grill in Sonoma, The Fountain Room in The Four Seasons Hotel, Philadelphia under Chefs Jean-Marie Lacroix and Martin Hamman, and served as Lacroix’s Chef de Cuisine and Chef de Restaurant at Lacroix at The Rittenhouse. Internationally, he has worked at George V in Paris and Relais St. Victoire in Aix en Provence, Landis Hotel Group Taiwan. Most recently, Ridgway served with Executive Chef Joël Antunes at Antunes’ namesake restaurant, JOËL, in Atlanta and opened the Oak Room, in the Plaza Hotel New York City.Ridgway is a Summa Cum Laude graduate of Johnson and Wales Culinary School and of Widener University, where he studied hospitality and business management. He now is founder and owner in porcsalt ; sustainable artisanal and local charcutiere. That provides his products at the local farmers markets and restaurants in the tri- state area He believes that food is a vocational journey; Passion, perfection, hard work , creativity are the cornerstones of cooking and food.
If you would like to try his amazing products, you can find some of them at Dibruno’s or take a trip to Bucks County and visit him yourself.
