Matthew Kenney facts for kids
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Kenney in 2016
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| Born | Connecticut, U.S. |
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| Education | University of Maine (BA) International Culinary Center |
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Award(s) won
Food & Wine (1994)
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Matthew Kenney is an American celebrity chef. He is also an entrepreneur, author, and teacher. He is known for his focus on plant-based cooking. This means he creates dishes using only ingredients from plants.
He has written 12 cookbooks. He has also started many vegan restaurants. Matthew Kenney is the founder of two companies. These are Matthew Kenney Cuisine and Matthew Kenney Culinary. The second company teaches people about plant-based food.
Contents
Early Life and Learning
Kenney was born in Connecticut, U.S. He grew up in Searsport, Maine. He went to the University of Maine. There, he earned a degree in political science.
After college, he decided to become a chef. He studied at the French Culinary Institute. This school is now called the International Culinary Center. He learned classic cooking skills there. He finished his studies in 1990. Then, he worked in different kitchens in New York City.
Chef Career
In 1993, Matthew Kenney opened his first restaurant. It was called Matthew's and was in New York City. In 1994, Food & Wine magazine named him "Best New Chef."
He opened other restaurants like Mezze and Commune. Some of his restaurants closed during tough economic times. Between 2021 and 2024, several of Kenney's restaurants closed.
Pure Food and Wine Restaurant
In 2004, Kenney helped open a vegan restaurant. It was called Pure Food and Wine. This restaurant was located in New York City.
Kenney left Pure Food and Wine in 2005.
Culinary School
In 2009, Kenney started his first cooking school. It was in Oklahoma City. In 2012, he moved the school to Santa Monica, California. He also moved his company to Los Angeles.
In 2013, he opened another school campus. This one was in Belfast, Maine. In 2017, he sold the cooking school.
Matthew Kenney Cuisine Company
In 2012, Kenney started Matthew Kenney Cuisine. This company is based in Los Angeles. It focuses on plant-based food and lifestyle. The company offers many services. These include restaurants, education, and products.
As of 2022, Matthew Kenney Cuisine runs over 50 restaurants. These restaurants are in more than 12 countries.
In 2019, Matthew Kenney Cuisine opened Plant City. This was an all-vegan food hall. It is located in Providence, Rhode Island. In the same year, he launched Ntidote Life nutrition bars. He created these with Dr. Amir Marashi.
Restaurants
Open Restaurants
- Double Zero, New York City, (2016–present)
- Plant Cafe, Bahrain (2017–present)
- plnthouse: The Good Kitchen, Miami (2017–present)
- Bar Verde, New York City, (2017–present)
- Plant City, Providence, Rhode Island (2019–present)
Closed Restaurants
- Matthew’s, New York City (1993–2001)
- Mezze, New York City (1995–2002)
- Monzu, SoHo, New York City (1997–1999)
- Cafe M, Stanhope Hotel, New York City (1998–)
- Commune, New York City (1999–2003)
- Canteen, SoHo, New York City (1999–2001)
- Commissary, New York City (2001–2003)
- Pure Food and Wine, New York City (2003)
- Free Foods NYC, W. 45th Street, New York City (2007–2014)
- Free Foods NYC, 52nd Street, New York City (?–2009)
- Arata, Belfast, Maine (2015–2016)
- Tamazul, Oklahoma City (2012–2014)
- The Gothic, Belfast, Maine (2013–2016)
- M.A.K.E., Santa Monica, California (2012)
- The White Lotus, Miami, Florida (2014)
- New Deli, Venice, California (2018–2021)
- Heirloom, Lower East Side, New York
- Cafe 118, Winter Park, Florida
- XYST, New York City, (2017–unknown)
- Blue/Green juice bars, various locations in New York City and one in Darien, Connecticut
- Sestina, New York City, (2020–2022)
- Liora, Baltimore, Maryland (2021-2023)
- Double Zero, Baltimore, Maryland (2021-2023)
- Double Zero, Venice, California (2019–2023)
- Hungry Angelina, Long Beach, California (2020–2022)
- Plantpub, Boston, MA(2022-2023)
- Essence Cuisine Shoreditch, London (2017–2023)
- Sestina, Culver City, California (2020–2023)
- Plant Food and Wine, Venice, California, (2015–2024)
- Make Out, Culver City, California (2015–2024)
- Oliver's of Montecito, Montecito (2017–2024)
- Baia, Hayes Valley, San Francisco, California (2020–2024)
- Matthew Kenney NM, Beverly Hills, (2016–2024)
- Plant Food and Wine, Miami, (2016–2024) (sold in 2018)
Awards
- 1994: Food & Wine, Best New Chef
Published Works
Matthew Kenney has written 12 cookbooks. These books share his plant-based recipes and cooking ideas.
