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ON THE DELO: Arizona Restaurant & Hospitality StoriesAuthor: David "The DELO" DeLorenzo
Step inside ON THE DELO Podcast: Arizona Restaurant & Hospitality Stories. Hosted by David DeLo DeLorenzoentrepreneur, insurance expert, and connector of peoplethis show dives deep into conversations with chefs, restaurateurs, brewers, and creators shaping the industry. Beyond business, DeLo explores health, mindset and community, exploring what it really takes to thrive in hospitality and in life. This podcast is here to help you get connected, stay protected, and keep growing. Subscribe now and join a community where hospitality, health, and hustle come together. Language: en Genres: Business, Entrepreneurship Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Building a Private Chef Business from the Ground Up with Mat Meyer | EP238
Episode 238
Sunday, 8 November, 2026
Twenty-five guests, six courses, and one working stovetop burner. That is one version of a day at work for Mat Meyer, owner and executive chef of Ansley Table. In Episode 238 of ON THE DELO: Arizona's Hospitality Podcast, Delo sits down with Mat for an honest conversation about starting over, finding support, and building a private dining business on his own terms.Following a divorce, Mat found himself rebuilding his life while raising his two sons, attending culinary school, and working in a kitchen. During that time, he and his boys spent two years at House of Refuge, a transitional housing community that helps families experiencing homelessness work toward stability and independence. With determination, support, and a growing passion for cooking, Mat worked toward a new chapter for his family.That journey eventually led to working under Chef Beau MacMillan, meeting his now-wife, Jill, and building Ansley Table into a thriving private dining and catering business. Mat shares how a family emergency pushed him to commit to the business full time, how word of mouth helped it grow, and what it took to move from operating out of his garage to opening a commercial kitchen in Mesa.Delo and Mat also get into unfamiliar kitchens, the shopping and prep guests never see, collecting payment before service, and why taking a vacation is complicated when you are still answering every inquiry. There is ambition here, including a future supper club, but also an honest conversation about the fear of losing what you have built. And yes, we wrap it up with steak, coffee, and LEGO.Chapter Guide (Timestamps)(0:00 - 2:18) Meet Mat: Back from Italy and Straight Back to Work(2:18 - 7:30) Starting Over with Two Sons and Support from House of Refuge(7:30 - 12:22) Beau MacMillan, Kitchen Mentorship, and Learning the Craft(12:22 - 15:02) Choosing Family and Committing to Ansley Table(15:02 - 17:56) Referrals, Reinvestment, and a Commercial Kitchen in Mesa(17:56 - 20:56) Six Courses, Twenty-Five Guests, and One Working Burner(20:56 - 25:11) Growth Plans, a Future Supper Club, and Custom Menus(25:11 - 28:14) The Prep Guests Never See and the Challenge of Stepping Away(28:14 - 31:36) Invoices, Service Expectations, and a Last-Minute Cancellation(31:36 - 32:55) Owner Involvement and the Fear of Losing It All(32:55 - 34:21) Finding Ansley Table and Planning for Holiday Bookings(34:21 - 37:35) Rapid Fire: Cast Iron, Steak, Coffee, and LEGO💬 What is the hardest part of stepping away from your business? Drop your biggest takeaway in the comments and share this episode with a chef or owner who is building something of their own.👉 Subscribe for more real conversations about Arizona hospitality, business ownership, and the people doing the work.GUEST LINKS:💼 Connect with Mat Meyer on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mat-meyer-943450290📲 Learn more about Ansley Table at https://www.ansleytable.com/📷 Follow Ansley Table on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ansleytable📘 Follow Ansley Table on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ansleytablePODCAST LINKS:🔗 Connect with Delo: https://linktr.ee/iamthedelo📚 Get Delo’s New Book, Risky Business: https://amazon.com/dp/B0GWSF48DX🤝 Delo’s Preferred Business Service Partners: https://iamthedelo.com/connect👥 Entrepreneur Community: https://www.builtdifferentcommunity.com📘 Facebook: https://facebook.com/IAmTheDelo📷 Instagram: https://instagram.com/iamthedelo💼 LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/daviddelorenzo1🍽️ Restaurant Resources: https://www.runningrestaurants.com/subscribe DISCOUNT CODE: DeLo2025
