Sea Grill Welcomes Executive Chef Matthew Brandsey

TACOMA, Wash.—(April 10, 2008)—Mackay Restaurants is thrilled to announce that Matthew Brandsey has joined Sea Grill as Executive Chef. In addition to overseeing the kitchen, he will present special menus for Sea Grill’s special winemaker dinners, as well as for popular celebrations such as “The Cult of the Crab” in March and “The Maine Event” Lobsterfest in November.

Hailing from Minneapolis, Brandsey has been working in the restaurant industry since 1995, and earned a Culinary Arts Diploma from Hennepin Technical College in Eden Prairie, Minn., in May 2000.

How did this born-and-bred midwesterner end up in the Pacific Northwest? Wanting to expand his horizons and see more of the world, he took a job with Cruise West, sailing out of Seattle. He met his wife on board and, following a stint in Chicago, they settled in Tacoma four years ago, where she has family.

With experience that extends beyond the boundaries of the kitchen, Brandsey brings a great breadth of knowledge to the position. He has opened five restaurants as Executive Chef, including three Travelers Tavern Hospitality Group locations in Chicago, the wine bar and restaurant Pour at Four in Tacoma, and DeCaterina’s Market Grill and Bar, a fine-dining restaurant in Puyallup.

Says Brandsey, “The best thing about working at Sea Grill is to be able to work with such fresh product. I mean, the seafood that comes in today was caught yesterday. I’m like a kid in a candy store!”

The energetic Brandsey also conducts food demonstrations, participates in numerous charity events, has taken part in the highly regarded “Farm to Table” program, and is on the advisory board for Clover Park Community College, where he creates the curriculum for the Culinary Arts Program.

Sea Grill is located on the commerce street level of the Rainier Pacific Bank in Tacoma, Wash., and features outstanding fresh seafood. Open for dinner Monday – Thursday 5 to 10 p.m., Friday – Saturday 5 to 11 p.m.; bar will serve from open to close daily. 1498 Pacific Avenue, Tacoma, Wash., 98042. For more information or reservations, call (253) 272-5656 or visit www.the-seagrill.com.