Season 2 - Episode 2 - Hattem Mattar - The Pitmaster !
Send us a textComing from a career in the oil and gas sector, to then change direction and start a business within hospitality from scratch is not an easy task, however Hattem Mattar, has done this and succeeded!From humble origins in Egypt, it was his family who showed him the love of food, and how to grill from a young age, but it wasn't until he took a work trip to Texas that the passion for all things barbecue truly ignited his spark. Texas is the birthplace of barbecue, so there was...
Coming from a career in the oil and gas sector, to then change direction and start a business within hospitality from scratch is not an easy task, however Hattem Mattar, has done this and succeeded!
From humble origins in Egypt, it was his family who showed him the love of food, and how to grill from a young age, but it wasn't until he took a work trip to Texas that the passion for all things barbecue truly ignited his spark.
Texas is the birthplace of barbecue, so there was no better place for Hattem to learn and master the art of controlling fire other than the legendary Brian Bracewell of Southside market.
https://www.southsidemarket.com
18 hours of managing various pits, and understanding fire, understanding different types of meats, gave Hattem an insight into how he could turn his passion into a full time job.
Back from the apprenticeship, then going to his now home in Dubai, this was the place where he could try out all of the techniques, on his friends and family. The Mattar farm originally was the place where his crew would come over to chill and enjoy the weekend, however the food began to gain a serious reputation, so much so , that strangers began to arrive in his house, this was the spark that pushed Hattem into turning a passion into a serious career.
5 years down the line the Mattar farm is now a fully fledged smokehouse, nothing is off the menu, camel, ostrich you name it, they can smoke it.
Hattem also now happens to be the face for Webber in the Middle East and Africa region, where he shows exactly what you can do to make incredible barbecues, he is also a regular on radio and television within the region.
https://www.weber.com/AE/en/home/
One of the things which we discussed, is the time that Hattem cooked in Brazil and represented the United Arab Emirates for the biggest barbecue festival on the planet. A gruelling 72 hour meatfest. it was a proud moment for the guy who just a few years previously was using the grill just to feed the gang.
https://en.churrascadafestival.com
The business is now going from strength to strength, with varied arms in hospitality, along with a couple of wolf cubs - his daughters, always by his side in order to pass the knowledge on.
http://themattarfarm.com
All in all, there is no arguing in saying that Hattem is not only on fire, but is truly an incredibly talented Pitmaster!
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