FERNDALE — Toast Ferndale has announced the addition of its new chef, Steve Matthews, and manager, Kat Dowdall.
A resident of Birmingham, Chef Matthews (left) has nearly two decades of restaurant experience, previously serving as sous chef at Café Muse and D’Amato’s in Royal Oak, Black Rock Bar and Grill in Novi, and Shiraz in Bingham Farms. Matthews also served chef at Alban’s Bottle & Basket in Birmingham and manager at Rio Bravo. Matthews attended Oakland Community College Culinary School.
Ferndale resident, Dowdall (left) has experience in the hospitality industry, employed as a server at Toast in Birmingham since 2012. Prior to joining Toast Dowdall held positions as a server, bartender, and manager at Longhi’s Wailea and Margarita’s Beach Cantina in Hawaii and Ideal Bar & Grill and Four Seasons Biltmore in Calif.
“Steve and Kat are very welcome additions to our Ferndale team,” says Toast Co-Owner Thom Bloom. “Having worked in numerous kitchens over the years, they both bring great ideas and new excitement to Toast.”
Under the pair’s administration, the restaurant recently participated in the inaugural Ferndale Restaurant Week. They also are concentrating on growing Toast Ferndale’s catering and party business.
