Matt Schaler
Birdie G’s | Santa Monica, CA
April 2024
Matt Schaler has been around restaurants for as long as he can remember. His parents were owners and operators, and by the time he was a teenager, he fell in love with cooking. But, his dream was met with some pushback, and he agreed to enroll at the University of Florida. While earning his degree in Economics, he spent summer breaks at restaurants like Cúrate with Rising Stars alum Katie Button.
He moved to Asheville, North Carolina and found a job at Rhubarb working under Chef John Fleer. While there, Schaler learned how to be a scrappy and inventive cook, and was inspired by Fleer’s jovial and supportive leadership style. After two years, he moved to Los Angeles and got a job at Rising Stars alum David LeFevre’s Fishing With Dynamite. Schaler then went to work with another Rising Stars alum, Miles Thompson, at Michael’s as sous chef. In need of a break, he spent some time working at the Santa Monica Farmers Market, but eight months later, he found his way back to the kitchen.
In 2019, Schaler joined the opening team at Birdie G’s under Rising Stars alum Jeremy Fox. Starting as a sous, he became chef de cuisine in 2020, and was promoted to executive chef in 2022. Schaler’s menu has grown to embrace the identity of an Eastern European brasserie—with an impressive fermentation program—while demonstrating the versatility of Southern California produce. As a leader at Birdie G’s, he has also established four-day work weeks for his kitchen staff, invested in the growth of his team, and implemented hours that allow his cooks to have a hand in both prep work and service.
