This alumnus really knows how to brunch

Matt Basile didn’t randomly stumble into all things culinary – his passion for food started when he was studying communications, and eventually English, at McMaster in the mid-2000s.

“After working for a local grocery store for a year, I started in the kitchen at Quarters,” says Basile. “Oddly enough, I mostly worked the breakfast shift, and now I’m coming back to do a virtual brunch with the alumni.”

He chuckles at the full-circle moment of it all. It does seem a bit poetically perfect, but he’s also quick to point out that it wasn’t a direct line from there to where he is now as one of Canada’s most recognizable and popular chefs.

The best journeys are the ones that teach you something

Matt is busy. He’s the owner and creator of the famous street food brand Fidel Gastro’s, the host of the Netflix series Rebel Without a Kitchen, and co-author of two cookbooks: Street Food Diaries and Brunch Life. Yet, despite all of that, Matt remains humble – especially when talking about his career journey.

“With my English degree, I went on to Humber College and did a post-graduate degree in advertising copywriting because I really enjoyed writing but I liked being more whimsical as opposed to methodical,” he says.

But after a few years of working for agencies and for large companies, he realized that something was missing. So, he started to hatch a plan to make a change.

“The original goal was to open up one sandwich shop. So I got to work on the business plan and pitched it to the bank,” he says. “But they shot me down within 10 minutes.”

Feeling a bit bruised, he still didn’t give up. When friends asked him to cater a party, he jumped at the opportunity.

“I felt at that moment that the food was becoming an extension of the party – it was very experiential at that point. And that’s when I decided to rebrand the company.”

When reflecting on his time at Mac, Matt says that he doesn’t regret a thing.

“I learned so much about who I am as a human. Having that experience ultimately proved to be a support as I grew my career,” he says. “The whole gambit of education, at that level, should be broad and should expand your knowledge and not focus it. It will open your mind for the adventure,” he says. “For new grads, the best advice I can give is to not become so fixated on what’s next but really enjoy what’s now.”

To meet Matt for a virtual brunch on Sunday, January 31 at 11 a.m., register on Zoom.