Matthew McKenzie Biography

Matthew comes from another walk of life, a dark past as a struggling teenager caught in the circle of heavy drug addiction, alcohol, crime and family abuse. He suffered heavy depression for about 9 months and tried to end his life, Matt was also homeless living on the street eating out of bins at the age of 15 whilst living in an abandoned water tower all alone. He was expelled from 3 high schools and had himself his first criminal record when he was only fifteen years old.

Matthew's culinary career took off with gusto when he was accepted into Jamie Oliver's first international restaurant, Fifteen Melbourne, Australia. Matthew carried out training at Box Hill Institute of TAFE and then qualified at Sofitel Culinary Academy Melbourne.

After successfully graduating from Fifteen Melbourne at the age of 21, Matthew landed his second chef position at Melbourne's finest three hat French restaurant "Vue de Monde" under the professional mentoring of world renowned chef and entrepreneur, Shannon Bennett.

From there, his career excelled with an offer to fly overseas to Hakuba, Japan, to launch the innovative Bar and Restaurant created by Australia's first winter Olympic gold medallist, Steven Bradbury, at the boutique 4 star Aqua Alpine Hotel. After the successful launch, including Matty's own signature dishes, he returned to Brisbane Australia, where he was appointed Head Chef at the famous historical Old Government House Queensland.

Matthew has worked alongside the following celebrity chefs; Jamie Oliver and Tobie Puttock from Fifteen, MasterChefs George Calombaris & Gary Mehigan, Gordon Ramsey, Dominique Rizzo from Ready Steady Cook, Curtis Stone and Shannon Bennett from Vue de Monde, just to name a few.

Matthew has catered for high profile clients including the Australian Governor General Ms Quentin Bryce and Queensland State Premier Ms Anna Bligh. Matthew has also cooked for Aussie actress Madeleine West (UnderBelly, Neighbours), Hamish and Andy (Rove Live), first winter Olympic gold medalist Steven Bradbury, singers Neil Diamond, Usher, Kesha, Foo Fighters and pop singing sensation Dannii Minogue, just to name a few.

Matthew is currently employed as a private chef and hotel ambassador and works in the private fine dining restaurant Prive 249 of Brisbane's finest 5 star Sofitel Hotel Brisbane.

Outback Matty xx