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What if restaurants could do more than just sustain?

What if restaurants could do more than just sustain?

Matia is an experiment to explore if restaurants can go beyond sustainability, and act regeneratively. We believe that this industry has choice. It can continue the exploitative processes that subsidize the systems it relies on, or it can take a stand to showcase, empower, honor, and lead the communities that they thrive in.

At Matia we’ve decided to take a step further. We want to create a model by which restaurants can regenerate the systems that need healing in our industry.

  • At Matia, people come first. We believe that restaurant workers deserve to be cared for. This means fair wages, access to healthcare, housing opportunities, healthy work environments, balance, time off, transparency, and more.

  • Matia is, and always has been, a love letter to the bounty of the San Juans. This archipelago is home to the most delicious natural product available to any chef. More than that, we act with intention and care for our farms and fisheries. At Matia, the natural products take center stage, and we simply honor them with the love and attention they deserve.

  • Restaurants, and particularly destination restaurants have a responsibility. People travel from all over the world to experience the pleasure and bliss on our plates every night, and that does not happen in a vacuum. We are stewards for this small island community, and we feel honored to have the opportunity to raise the tide of the place we call home.

Matia, founded in 2016 by Avery Adams and Drew Downing, has always been a passionate pursuit of showcasing the abundance of this archipelago.  With humble beginnings, offering pop ups in bars and coffee shops, MATIA has always been a dynamic service to the community.  Expanding into catering and outdoor events all over the Salish Sea, and dynamic pivots into consulting and food writing during the early days of 2020, we are excited to finally have a brick and mortar to call home. 

After weathering an abrupt closure in January, MATIA Kitchen Re-opens at the hallowed Old Firehall - former home of Eastsound institutions Roses Cafe and MONTi (382 Prune Alley). Under the same leadership team of its’ founders, MATIA returns with the same nationally recognized seasonal farm to table dining experience, chef’s counter tasting menus, unique and rarified libations, and lively, rambunctious bistro fare.

“Our hope is to continue the work we’ve done the last two years,” says Chef Avery Adams. “This restaurant has always been a love letter to the San Juan Islands and my time growing up in the area and will continue to feature and celebrate hyper seasonal products from our dear friends and supporters.” Look forward to a shifting menu at Matia that reflects the changes in the season throughout the year, recalling old crowd favorites and new exciting dishes allowed by the new space and newly enlivened creative energy. 

“It’s a true honor to be here.  We could not be more excited for the joy and reverence of this space, and to continue the rich history of this restaurant with our MATIA spirit” general manager, Downing,  adds.  “Having the opportunity to both secure a permanent home for MATIA, as well as continue the growth of MONTi, is like a dream come true.  I can’t wait to see these concepts sing in symbiosis with one another” 

team

Avery Adams
Owner/Executive Chef

Drew Downing
Owner/General Manager

Spencer Verkuilen
Beverage Director

Oscar Schragel-Rietz
Sous Chef