Toronto chef Matty Matheson shares crazy kitchen stories on Jimmy Kimmel Live

Matheson is known for his character Neil Fak, a restaurant mechanic, in the hit TV show “The Bear,” which he also co-produces. Recently, the drama has received multiple awards including SAG, Emmys, and Golden Globes, among others. 

During his appearance on Kimmel, Matheson spoke about the show’s many achievements as well as his time working in kitchens as a chef himself. 

The businessman currently owns numerous restaurants in Toronto and Northern Ontario  offering everything from fast food to fine dining. This includes Prime Seafood Palace, Matty’s Patty’s, Fonda Balam, Maker’s Pizza, Rizzo’s House of Parm and Cà Phê Rang.

READ MORE: Eat like a king at these Toronto restaurants owned by ‘The Bear’ actor and restaurateur Matty Matheson

Much like the storyline in “The Bear,” Kimmel asked Matheson if it was possible for someone to actually get locked in a walk-in freezer when working in a restaurant. In response, the chef had the perfect story to tell. 

“I was working at this restaurant and one of our pastry chefs… she went in to get some butter out of the freezer and she was locked in there for 45 minutes. It was during service and it was definitely scary,” he revealed.

He then went on to tell Kimmel about an even scarier experience he had at his former Toronto restaurant Parts & Labour. 

“I was making a staff meal and it was two weeks into opening. I was making egg salad sandwiches…and I was boiling a bunch of eggs. I went over to the sink to pour them into a colander and I splashed myself a little bit. I took a step back and I flipped the pot upside down and I shot a bunch of boiling water down my leg,” Matheson said.

After taking off his boots and wool socks (because he lives in Canada), he discovered a lot of the skin was removed from his foot. 

But instead of going straight to the hospital, Matheson said he decided to create an ice bath for his foot until he finished service. As soon as service was done, he went to the hospital where he was told he had third-degree burns. 

“The Bear” is available to stream now on Disney+.