Matt Lewis, a New Orleans native, is bringing Creole food to Seattle. His truck, Where Ya At Matt, serves up muffuletta, jambalaya, gumbo and a slew of po’ boys, among other Louisiana delicacies. The Peacemaker, a po’ boy with deep fried oysters, bacon, cheddar and pickled peppers, is a fan favorite. “Every menu item carries a fond childhood memory for me,” writes Lewis, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York, on his website. “I choose each menu item, then run it by my family, even my granny. When granny approves, you know it’s got to be good!”

Seattle Magazine counts Where Ya At Matt among the city’s best new restaurants of 2011. The editors like its “ever-boisterous, charismatic and sometimes flirty” chef too. “He’s almost as much of an attraction as his beignets ($4 for three)—hot out of the fryer, sizzling with oil and dusted with sugar,” says the magazine. – MG

Website: http://whereyaatmatt.com/
Twitter: @WhereYaAtMatt
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whereyaatmatt