About Chef Matt
I grew up in a home where love was served on a plate. Nothing could top Mom’s chicken marsala or her buttercream frosting, and every birthday I chose her homemade meatballs over a restaurant dinner—because they were just that good. On summer weekends, I looked forward to the all-day feasts Nonie prepared for our big Irish-Italian family—meals that rivaled (and usually beat) anything you'd find in a restaurant.
Despite my early love for food, I didn’t actually learn to cook until after law school. I started with the basics—boiling pasta and pouring sauce from a jar. Then came meal kits, with pre-measured ingredients and simple instructions. Slowly but surely, I grew more confident and adventurous in the kitchen. Eventually, I was cooking multicultural meals completely from scratch—dishes like homemade Pad Thai that we now prefer over takeout. Cooking transformed from a chore into a creative outlet, a passion, and one of the most fulfilling parts of my life.
My Love for Cooking
I grew up in a home where love was served on a plate. Nothing could top Mom’s chicken marsala or her buttercream frosting, and every birthday I chose her homemade meatballs over a restaurant dinner—because they were just that good. On summer weekends, I looked forward to the all-day feasts Nonie prepared for our big Irish-Italian family—meals that rivaled (and usually beat) anything you'd find in a restaurant.
Despite my early love for food, I didn’t actually learn to cook until after law school. I started with the basics—boiling pasta and pouring sauce from a jar. Then came meal kits, with pre-measured ingredients and simple instructions. Slowly but surely, I grew more confident and adventurous in the kitchen. Eventually, I was cooking multicultural meals completely from scratch—dishes like homemade Pad Thai that we now prefer over takeout. Cooking transformed from a chore into a creative outlet, a passion, and one of the most fulfilling parts of my life.
My Love for Cooking
My Health Journey
As my confidence in the kitchen grew, so did my curiosity about the connection between food and well-being. That curiosity took on new meaning when I began to reflect on my own health challenges.
For years, I silently struggled with debilitating ADHD symptoms. I had been on powerful stimulant medication for over a decade—able to push through work, but feeling like a shell of myself, exhausted and depressed. The meds suppressed my appetite, so meals were often skipped or replaced with something quick and processed. I never made the connection between what I ate and how I felt—mentally or physically—until I met my wife, Kat, a Certified Integrative Nutrition Coach.
She helped me see food differently. When I shifted to a gluten and dairy-free diet and began prioritizing real, nourishing meals, everything changed.
I was able to come off my medication and manage my ADHD symptoms naturally—through food. My energy came back. My mood lifted. My mind felt clearer. Inflammation, blood sugar crashes, anxiety, fatigue, and irritability disappeared. Food became the foundation of my wellness, and it completely transformed my life. It was as if I were finally seeing life in full color.
That transformation gave me a new mission: to help others experience that same kind of freedom and empowerment through food.
She helped me see food differently. When I shifted to a gluten and dairy-free diet and began prioritizing real, nourishing meals, everything changed.
I was able to come off my medication and manage my ADHD symptoms naturally—through food. My energy came back. My mood lifted. My mind felt clearer. Inflammation, blood sugar crashes, anxiety, fatigue, and irritability disappeared. Food became the foundation of my wellness, and it completely transformed my life. It was as if I was finally seeing life in full color.
That transformation gave me a new mission: to help others experience that same kind of freedom and empowerment through food.
As my confidence in the kitchen grew, so did my curiosity about the connection between food and well-being. That curiosity took on new meaning when I began to reflect on my own health challenges.
For years, I silently struggled with debilitating ADHD symptoms. I had been on powerful stimulant medication for over a decade—able to push through work, but feeling like a shell of myself, exhausted and depressed. The meds suppressed my appetite, so meals were often skipped or replaced with something quick and processed. I never made the connection between what I ate and how I felt—mentally or physically—until I met my wife, Kathryn, a Certified Integrative Nutrition Coach.
My Health Journey
I spent eight years practicing as a civil litigator in Boston—trying cases, building a book of business, and working towards “Partner” with a growing roster of my own clients. I was on a successful career path, working my “dream job”, but when faced with the decision to continue on that trajectory or devote my energy to the work that gave me my health and my life back, the decision was clear.
The skills I developed as an attorney - strategic thinking, problem-solving and attention to detail- now form the backbone of how I run Riordan Meal Co: with intention, discipline, and care.
This wasn’t just a career change. It was a calling. I left the legal field to share the transformational power of food and help others experience how much better life can feel when you eat in a way that truly supports your body and mind.
Before Riordan Meal Co
I'm taking a trip back in time through the latest Youtube war documentary on all things Ancient Greece and Rome to Present Day.
I'm listening to new music - Inspired by my dad and his CD collection, amplified during my short stint as a college radio DJ, my love for music spans everything from ’70s and ’80s rock to modern EDM and indie tracks.
I strength train to stay sane... I’m always testing new ways to build muscle, improve my focus, and stay grounded—whether that’s lifting weights or sitting in stillness through meditation.
I'm an e-sports athlete, working my way from Semi-Pro Clash of Clans Player to Professional. Stay tuned!
I'm walking with my wife. What began as 5 a.m.
sunrise walks to the gym back in our city days
has evolved into peaceful sunset strolls—our
favorite way to unwind and connect.
When I'm not in the kitchen
I strength train to stay sane... I’m always testing new ways to build muscle, improve my focus, and stay grounded—whether that’s lifting weights or sitting in stillness through meditation.
I'm an e-sports athlete, working my way from Semi-Pro Clash of Clans Player to Professional. Stay tuned!
I'm walking with my wife. What began as 5 a.m. sunrise walks to the gym back in our city days has evolved into peaceful sunset strolls—our favorite way to unwind and connect.
I'm taking a trip back in time through the latest Youtube war documentary on all things Ancient Greece and Rome to Present Day.
I'm listening to new music - Inspired by my dad and his CD collection, amplified during my short stint as a college radio DJ, my love for music spans everything from ’70s and ’80s rock to modern EDM and indie tracks.
When I'm not in the kitchen
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