Matt McCallister

• bio

  Chef Matt McCallister thrives on the energy of the kitchen: an atmosphere that is at once chaotic and structured. After cooking in kitchens across the country, Matt found his home in Dallas at FT33, his first solo venture, which he opened at the age of 31 in October 2012.

  McCallister has always had an artistic side and a love of food. Growing up, he enjoyed cooking at home and always tended to a large garden. When choosing his career path, he felt torn between the visual and culinary arts, and he attended the Metropolitan Arts Institute in Phoenix in 2000 before ultimately choosing cooking.

  When not cooking at FT33, Matt can be found shopping at farmers’ markets, going on long runs, which he says is when most of his new menu ideas come to light, reading cookbooks, or catching a DnB show. His favorite time, though, is time spent with his daughter, Ella. The five-year-old enjoys shopping, hanging out at the park, reading, working on puzzles, and painting.