Executive Chef, The Southern

Executive Chef Matt Farley began his culinary journey in rural upstate New York at the age of 17. He moved to New York City in 1995, where he worked his way up in the kitchens of some of the Big Apple’s most lauded restaurants.

After studying at the French Culinary Institute, Farley landed the executive chef position at The Noho Star where he remained for 7 years. Farley’s eclectic career then led him to run a USDA plant, where he oversaw product development for retailers such as Whole Foods and Trader Joes. Farley moved his family to Nashville in the Fall of 2009, and after two and half years of working at the Loveless Cafe and the Farmhouse at Fontanel, he brought his varied experience and true love of food to The Southern. “To me, the most important thing is having honest food that brings out the flavors of good, simple ingredients.”