Chef Matt Shaw
Chef Instructor, Baking & Pastry
Through travel and service, I’ve learned that food is more than sustenance—it’s morale, culture, and connection. The military taught me discipline, travel taught me respect for flavors beyond borders, and teaching reminds me that sharing food is sharing knowledge. No matter where I serve, a well-cooked meal can still bring people together.
About
Chef Matt Shaw brings over two decades of culinary experience, elite military service, and educational leadership to the classroom. His journey began in his mother’s kitchen learning traditional Czech pastry techniques, which set the foundation for a distinguished career in culinary arts.
An active-duty United States Coast Guard Culinary Specialist, Chef Matt has served in high-profile roles including Special Command Aide to the Commandant and Vice Commandant in Washington, D.C., where he cooked for world leaders, foreign dignitaries, and members of Congress, as well as assisting with events at the White House.
Early in his career, he was mentored by Michelin-starred Chef Gilles Epie at Citrus Étoile in Paris, a sixty-cover restaurant later named one of the top 100 in the world by Condé Nast Traveler. He also owned and operated Holly Road Café in Texas and served as a Coast Guard Culinary Instructor and Curriculum Coordinator.
In recognition of his craftsmanship and dedication, Chef Matt was named the 2022 American Culinary Federation (ACF) National Pastry Chef of the Year and was awarded the U.S. Army Military Service Medal representing all military branches.
He is a graduate of the New England Culinary Institute and the Culinary Institute Lenôtre. A passionate culinarian, Chef Matt believes deeply in the power of food as a foundation for happiness and connection.
Honors & Awards
- ACF National Pastry Chef of the Year, 2022
- Military Service Medal - Awarded from the US Army representing all the military branches at the ACF National convention, 2022
Professional EXPERIENCE
- Owner/Chef Holly Road Café - Corpus Christi, TX
- US Coast Guard Boatswain - South Padre Island & Galveston, TX
- Philippe, Cuisinier - Houston, TX
- Citrus Etoil Champs Elysees, Stage - Paris, France
- US Coast Guard Tender Abbie Burgess, Culinary Specialist - Rockland, ME
- US Coast Guard Cutter Manta, Culinary Specialist - Freeport, TX
- US Coast Guard Special Command Aid, Executive Dining Facility Homeland Security - Washington, D.C.
- US Coast Guard Cutter Steadfast, Culinary Specialist - Astoria, OR
- US Coast Guard Tracen Petaluma A-School Culinary Instructor/Curriculum Coordinator - Petaluma, CA
- US Coast Guard Special Command Aide to Commandant and Vice Commandant - Washington, D.C.
- US Coast Guard Recruiter in Charge Recruiting Office - Boise, Idaho
Dish Examples
Pistachio Brownie Toffee Bar
One of my favorite recipes from my mother's kitchen that I have made many times over the years for my fellow shipmates in the Coast Guard. Recipe and myself were featured in the Taste of Home Magazine in 2017.
Education
- Bachelor of Arts in Baking and Pastry - New England Culinary Institute, Montpelier, Vermont
- Associate Degree of Applied Science Culinary Arts - Culinary Institute LeNotre, Houston, TX
