My name is Matthew Freeman, I’m an Executive Chef and entrepreneur, and this is my story.

After graduating from culinary school at the age of 19, I went on to have a successful career as a Chef in the hospitality industry. I’ve cooked for many people along the way including, the President of the United States, Tommy Lasorda, state Governors, local Mayors, Congressmen, and many more. I have catered more than 1000 weddings, won several awards, and added new menu items and recipes to national food chains and theme parks. One of the best compliments I ever received came from a band called Good Charlotte, “We have traveled all over this country, touring for many years. We have eaten at some of the finest restaurants in America, but your food, hands down is the best we have ever had.”

My life was turned upside down at the age of 36, when I had a massive stroke. The doctors weren’t even sure if I was even going to survive, let alone return to work. I was placed in the ICU of a specialty stroke center in California, where I spent three weeks recovering. When I was released, I was told not to return to work, or even drive, and I spent a month in physical therapy. I was devastated by the fact that I may never return to my passion of cooking, but decided to fight for my life and was able to recover within a month. The doctors were in disbelief. I eventually returned to work, but I was diagnosed with permanent partial blindness in both eyes (about 25% each) and suffered from short-term memory retention.

I’ve been back at it and cooking for more than ten years. During this time, I didn’t realize that my health was beginning to deteriorate even further. I was forgetting daily tasks and became easily flustered, frustrated, and short tempered. I was walking into people, cars, chairs, tables and just about anything that got in my way. I immediately made an appointment with a specialist. After many tests and scans, my doctor told me that it was time for me to retire from the hospitality industry and stop driving. My new diagnosis… I had lost up to 70% of my vision from complications due to the stroke and my doctor told me I was in the early stages Alzheimer’s/Dementia. It was quite a blow to my psyche. I was just 46, permanently disabled, legally blind, and in the early stages of dementia, but I wasn’t about to give up just yet.

“Freeman Family Foods” was born out of my love for cooking and a challenge to myself to keep pushing forward. This will no doubt
be the biggest and most challenging fight of my life, but I am determined to keep on living. I am bringing to the market, some new and exciting specialty seasonings, sauces and foods. Products like Chipotle Bacon Butter seasoning, Chipotle Bacon Butter ranch dressing, Champagne Pickles, Pink Dragon Pistachios, Butterscotch Rum cookies, Bourbon & Black Cherry BBQ sauce and so much more…