On the clock today, the most colorful chef in the Valley Chef Eddie Matney, fresh from cooking up more than 1,000 pounds of turkey for Thanksgiving, is giving us his tips on how the food lover dropped 40 pounds in a bit of a surprising way and how the upcoming 2012 "Cruise with Eddie" came about. Details on how you can cruise with the colorful Chef and more after the jump:So you know how this works, we fire off questions and you fire back. Looks like your ready...
DLT: What was your first restaurant and when did it open?
Eddie Matney: My first restaurant was The Stockbridge Cafe and I opened it in 1984 in Stockbridge, MA.
What is your favorite all time dish to make?
Anything with lamb, one of my favorite meats.
If you cooked for our DLT owner / restauranteur, John McDonald, what would you make?
I would prepare a Steak Tartar to start with an arugula, peach, and watermelon salad. For the entree, I would do lamb three different ways: grilled loin of lamb on caramelized onion mashed potato, lamb riblets with bbq mo' rockin five spice, and lamb osso bucco over forest mushrooms.
What's your favorite spot for dinner?
Eddie's House or Sushi Stingray.
What's your favorite at Thanksgiving?
Turkey Leg dipped in mashed potatoes and gravy, then throughly rolled through corn!
How many pounds of Turkey did you make for your Thanksgiving Day seating and take out?
About 1,000 pounds.
For news, paper or internet?
News talk radio.
Coffee or tea in the morning?
Water, banana, and a Honey Crisp Apple.
You recently lost 40 pounds, what was your secret?
Staying away from McDonald's, exercise, and eating right.
What prompted the weight loss?
Wanting to see my kids graduate from college and living a long life with my beautiful wife.
What's your favorite healthy snack to keep the weight off?
Ripe Bartlett Pears.
How did the "Cruise with Eddie" come about?
I love to cook. My wife and I did this years ago and had a great time. We thought it would be fun with the kids this time around.
>Will it be all work for you or will you get to relax and have fun on the cruise?
A lot of work with some fun. I'm just excited to spend a week with my family.
What's your favorite city outside of Phoenix?
Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
What city have you yet to visit that you would like to?
Toronto, Canada.
You can head to North Alaska on Regent Seven Seas Cruises with Chef Matney and his family on sailing for 7 days aboard the Seven Seas Navigator. For more information on the cruise or to reserve your spot, call 480-314-2806 or email gay.mullan@protraveleinc.com.
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