Executive Chef Matthew Bousquet
It’s No Secret That Charlottesville’s Best Chef Is at the Clifton
"Seasonality really influences my cooking. And the local food here is probably the best I’ve seen. You have a lot of young people starting farms and doing something fascinating, and it is all really good quality. There’s a lot of experimentation."
- Matthew Bousquet
About Chef Matthew
The Clifton’s culinary team is led by Michelin-starred executive chef Matthew Bousquet. Before joining The Clifton team, Chef Bousquet owned and ran the acclaimed Mirepoix Restaurant in northern California. After moving to Charlottesville, Bousquet worked for a few years filling in as a chef in restaurants around town including the Executive Chef role at Keswick Hall.
Bousquet incorporates his classical French training while working with local Virginia products. He also identifies with his audience, both local patrons and visitors who come from all over the world.
The Clifton has a large cultivated garden at the culinary team’s disposal, as well as wild herbs, fruits and vegetables on our 100-acre property. The property is a foraging haven for chefs. And Bousquet and his staff take full advantage of what nature has yielded when planning the menu for 1799 Restaurant. “Hopefully our guests experience as much as we can get out of the garden, as much really great quality local super fresh stuff that is as seasonal as possible,” Bousquet says.
Bousquet says his favorite dish to prepare is foie gras so if you see that on the menu, it's a must-try dish.
Private Dining
Enjoy the finest private dining in Charlottesville, Virginia. With multiple venues to choose from including the private wine cellar, veranda, library, or chef's counter in the kitchen, you can plan an event to remember.