Matthew Jennings

With four James Beard Foundation Award nominations for Best Chef: Northeast, Matt Jennings is recognized for his bold, lusty cooking and dedication to New England's seasonal ingredients. After a decade of success with his restaurant and artisan food shop, Farmstead in Providence, Matt returned to his native city of Boston in February 2015 to open Townsman, a New England brasserie. Townsman was named one of Esquire Magazine's Best New Restaurants in America, among other accolades.

Over the past few years, Matt has undergone a dramatic health transformation. He has embraced sobriety, committed to fitness, studied wellness and mindfulness and in the process lost 175 pounds. As a result of his personal epiphany, he closed Townsman this summer to launch Full Heart Hospitality, a consultancy that helps businesses across the restaurant industry connect wellness and social responsibility to creative problem solving and culture creation.

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