Meet our Executive Chef

Chef Matthew Johnson

Chef Matthew has been featured on Fox 2 Detroit Morning News on multiple occasions and is also known for donating his time to the Michigan ProStart junior culinary competition as a judge. Competing around the eastern half of the United States, totaling over ten culinary competitions sanctioned by the ACF, Matthew has won 7 ACF Medals (Gold, Silver, and Bronze). He was also Captain of the 2006 student National team at Schoolcraft College. At Zehnder's in Frankenmuth he won 1st place for cooking with craft beer. He also earned the title of Best Chili in Royal Oak in 2011. 

Cooking for over 18 years with 15 of them in management, and supervising up to 20 employees with 5 food outlets, Matthew has explored many avenues in the culinary world. Matthew grew up in Saginaw Michigan, when he was 16 years old he started working at The Farm Restaurant in Port Austin Michigan. Following his passion and mentor, Jeffery Gabriel Certified Master Chef (CMC), he went to Schoolcraft College to study culinary arts, where he was the Sous Chef for butchery. 

After culinary school Matthew went to Great Oaks Country Club in Rochester Hills. He then opened Star Lanes at Emagine Theater in Royal Oak as the Executive Chef. Having a brief stint at The Village of East Harbor in Chesterfield before taking over The Wyndgate Country Club in Rochester Hills. He became Chef at Crave in Ferndale before moving to south Florida, to work at the Hilton Palm Beach Airport. After the Hilton Matthew started working at Apeiro in Delray, a Mediterranean themed restaurant. Matthew went full circle and came back to his roots; in 2017 he became the chef of The Bank (1884) in Port Austin Michigan.