One of the biggest personalities in town and affectionately known as “the most colorful chef” in the Phoenix Metropolitan area, Eddie Matney’s approach to New American Cuisine embraces the belief that the “melting pot theory” applies equally well to cooking as to sociology. According to Chef Eddie, his cooking is a “Mirror of America”, multi-cultural, multi-ethnic and utilizes the many flavors that are native to classic American and Mediterranean cooking.
Prior to coming to Arizona in 1986 to open Steamers, Chef Eddie co-owned and operated the successful Stockbridge CafÈ in the Berkshires of Massachusetts. In 1988, he opened the award winning restaurant, Eddie’s Grill in Phoenix. In September 1998, Eddie and his wife and partner Jennifer Blank-Matney opened a new restaurant, Eddie Matney¹s in the tony Biltmore neighborhood of the Valley. In 2006, Chef Eddie partnered with NBA player Amare Stoudemire to open Stoudemire¹s Downtown, located right in the heart of Downtown Phoenix. He also was asked by The Golf Club Scottsdale, one of the most prestigious private clubs in Scottsdale, to enhance its culinary offerings during 2007. Eddie has now ventured back to do what he does best; cook, and be an entrepreneur. The buzz has already started about his latest venture: Eddie¹s House, to be located in energetic downtown Scottsdale.
Chef Eddie is a co-host on “Your Life A to Z” on Arizona¹s Channel 3, two times a week. Along with being dubbed the “Number One Chef in the Valley” for five consecutive years by Phoenix Magazine, he has been celebrated for his unique culinary style in a number of prestigious publications including Food and Wine, USA Today, Bon Appetit, Food Arts, Nation’s Restaurant News and Money Magazine. While in New York for his dinner presentation at The James Beard House, Chef Eddie was featured on CBS’ the Early Show.
This is Chef Eddie¹s eighth year representing the Arizona Cardinals at the prestigious “Taste of the NFL” event. He also found time to co-author Heartfelt Cuisine, which is a quick and easy heart healthy comfort food cookbook. He teamed up with Poore Brothers Potato Chips® to produce and market several seasonal flavors including: Chef Eddie’s Mediterranean Spiced Chips, 4 Onion Dip Chips, Chicago Style Pizza Chips, Pesto Chips and Smokehouse Cheddar Chips. Sunwest Distributors designated Eddie the exclusive representing chef of Viking brand in the valley.
His colorful and innovative approach to the preparation and presentation of food, coupled with his bold individualism and dynamic persona make Eddie a unique force in the local and national culinary scene.