Jeff Mattia is a passionate man.
As the chef-owner of Pyre BBQ in Mandeville, he is passionate about food. He is passionate about flavor. He is passionate about using fire and wood smoke to maximize the quality of both.
But he’s also passionate about his Northshore community – and about sharing his decades of amassed kitchen wisdom to help local residents learn how to combine good eating and good health.
Which is how Mattia ended up in front of a room full of home cooks on Monday (Jan. 8, 2024) as part of the latest Eat Well, Live Well cooking demonstration hosted by the American Heart Association and Healthier Northshore, a public health coalition spearheaded by St. Tammany Health System.
“I think it was my grandmother,” Mattia said, discussing his kitchen passions. “She’s the one who taught me how to cook.”
He added to those early lessons with a four-year stint as a Marine Corps cook, followed by further culinary education that included time alongside such notable chefs as Tom Colicchio, Todd English and John Besh.
In that time, he has developed a kitchen philosophy that emphasizes fresh, whole food, sustainable farming and ramped-up deliciousness.
For example, his recipe for Grilled Pork Chops and Bourbon Roasted Carrots – which he prepared for the cooking demo audience – calls for bone-in pork chops.
“You can use boneless,” he said, “but if it has the ability to leave the bone on it, leave the bone on it. You’ll get more flavor.”
Similarly, he urged use of fresh herbs whenever possible in lieu of dried herbs.
“When they dry the herbs,” he said, “they’re drying all the natural oils and perfumes out of it. You’ll still get rosemary flavor, but it won’t be as intense.”
Additionally, Mattia said he never uses canned vegetables, which are often filled with preservatives. He is, however, a fan of frozen veggies when fresh isn’t available.
“Frozen is actually very good,” he said. “The nutrient level is there, and they’re frozen at the peak of their freshness.”
In addition to getting a sample of Mattia’s pork chops and carrots as part of the demo, attendees also received a box of fresh ingredients – as they do at all Eat Well, Live Well demos – so they could re-create the dish at home, courtesy of sponsor Stone Creek Club & Spa.