Local chef and culinary entrepreneur Matt Starcher will be taking his cooking to the next level on national television. Starcher, known online as “MattDad,” will be competing on a culinary stage on “Next Level Chef,” Season 5, which premieres Thursday on Fox.

Hosted by Gordon Ramsay, the reality competition recruits talented chefs to face unique cooking challenges while competing for a grand prize of $250,000.

Starcher, a Johnson and Wales University graduate from Chesapeake, spent decades working in local kitchens including Mahi Mahs, Ships Cabin, Bistro 210 and others.

Eventually, he took a job at Sysco to help raise his family. After 20 years in the corporate world, he walked away from his career to go all in on his passion.

“I was quietly building a dream on the side by teaching cooking classes at the Kitchen Barn and creating social media content,” said Starcher. “I pivoted and started selling seasoning blends out of my home.”

He created MaD Seasoning, a line of seasoning blends inspired by his philosophy of helping others become better cooks. On most Saturdays, Starcher can be found demonstrating and sampling his seasonings at the Old Beach Farmers Market in Virginia Beach.

“For the last six years, I have been grinding each and every day on the dream and passion project of making folks cook better food,” said Starcher. “I do this because I believe that better food brings more people around the table.”

In February, Starcher was approached by a fellow social media influencer about casting for the “Next Level Chef” competition. After a long interview process that started in March, Starcher was selected and on his way to film in Ireland in September.

Starcher said he put a lot of work in during the interview process and believes his experience was a huge asset in getting selected.

Matt Starcher created MaD Seasoning, a line of seasoning blends inspired by his philosophy of helping others become better cooks. (Lee Belote/For The Virginian-Pilot)

“I think I was picked because I was willing to chase a dream,” he said. “You are never too old to chase a dream, and passion is fun to watch.”

He said the hardest part of the whole experience was being away from his family. “It was a lonely experience,” Starcher said. “As far as the competition, the most challenging part was the lack of time. You have to think so fast and then had a short amount of time to cook.”

He added there was a lot of pressure knowing the world was watching along with the three mentors: chefs Richard Blais, Nyesha Arrington and Gordon Ramsay.

Starcher said the competition was tough, but he learned so much and developed some lifelong friendships. Outside of marrying Rhonda, his high school sweetheart, and having four kids and two grandkids, Starcher said this was the best thing that’s ever happened to him.

“This was truly a once in a lifetime experience,” he said. “I was surrounded by blessings, and it was surreal.”

Starcher said this show is just another step to take MaD Seasoning and his MattDad brand to the next level.

“Next Level Chef,” Season 5, premieres at 8 p.m. Thursday.

https://www.dailypress.com/2026/01/24/hampton-roads-chef-tv-cooking-competition/