All photos of Matt Hutchins are from his Instagram, @buttermilkjack.

Matt Hutchins was a game-changing culinary icon during a time of culinary renaissance that defined Beacon. That time period could be likened to when DIA:Beacon opened in the old Nabisco box printing factory and changed the trajectory of Beacon’s art and design scene. Matt, known as Matty to friends, passed away Saturday June 28, 2025 at age 51.

ALBB did not know him personally, but he regularly appeared as the chef in several new restaurant openings, so he was often in our articles. Regional food magazines are most likely going to devote a few pages to this culinary creative. Matt presented as: “A dreamer, chef, musician, vintage and vinyl enthusiast, forager, and earnest knucklehead,” reads his Instagram. A graduate of the Culinary Institute, he was also from the south.

He first appeared on ALBB’s radar when he was part of the opening of The Hop. Says beverage industry veteran and Beacon resident, Lynnette Marrero in Imbibe who designed cocktails for The Hop: “When a local beer bar called The Hop opened in 2012, things started to change. It really opened the local scene to craft, even evolving to have a small cocktail menu.” Food-wise, it was described as “country French with Southern inflection” at Upstater.

Prior to The Hop, in 2010, Matt was chosen as the chef for Birdsall House.

When The Hop announced its unexpected closure in October 2016, local journalist Brian Cronin of the Highlands Current declared: “It was the social-media equivalent of an earthquake on the east end of Beacon’s Main Street.” ALBB wrote about it here. The team at The Hop went on to create other establishments, like bar manager and former dolly grip in LA, John-Anthony Gargiulo, who opened Hudson Valley Brewery. Others went to newly formed Melzingah’s.

From January - April 2017, Matt was the first executive chef for the opening of the renovated Beacon Hotel (revisit that history and major renovation here). Beacon Hotel Restaurant ended and became Carter’s owned by Chef Jon Lombardi.

When Mama Roux opened at 96 Broadway in Newburgh in November 2019, Matt described the flavor as: “deep South with some Cajun influences, Creole, and country French” in the Times Hudson Valley.

By at least December 2022, Matt snuggled into Dogwood, formerly owned by George Mansfield (retired and current City Councilmember), which he sold to become what is now Cooper’s.

At the Dogwood, Matt’s menu was wide-ranging: “@buttermilkjack (aka chef Matt Hutchins) is rolling out his new expanded Dogwood menu tonight. there really is something for everyone now, so what are you waiting for? come on out to @dogwoodbeacon for some of what has now got to be the best bar food in town.”

Matt continued on at Quinn’s, which is owned by Yukie and Tom Schmitz since 2013, and where George Mansfield can be seen again (George was once a partner, as have been some others, but Yukie and Tom are the sole owners at present, Yukie told ALBB). Matt spread out musically.

In October 2024, Matt was part of the opening of the new-ownership version of Untouchable in Newburgh at 40 Liberty Street. The owners of Quinn’s set their sights on this dive bar. Yukie recalled to ALBB: “Thanks again for writing about Matt who was a wonderful human being and a big part of our community. We all will miss him for a long time.” Yukie let ALBB know that he also helped them open Untouchable in Newburgh last year. “Matty was a huge part of it. I miss him being behind the bar. It was such a fun moment.” Menu items included a French Taco (chicken and Gruyere cheese) and Le Smash (double smash burger).

Matt Hutchins behind the newly opened restaurant bar, Untouchable, in Newburgh.
PHoto credit: Yukie Schmitz.

Local friends have been mourning and expressing their unexpected grief. Yukie published in her Instagram with a picture of Matt in an airport: “A dear friend whom I treated like family. They helped me out at work and they helped me out a lot. This picture is of him just arriving at Narita Airport. He was always the one at the center of the circle. Until recently, I'm filled with unheard thoughts from many people that he cherished his memories in Japan.”

Food photographer Meghan Spiro said in her Instagram: “Sometimes we crossed paths in business while I captured your dishes, but more often, we found ourselves late night at Quinn’s - catching up on each of our hopes and dreams, reminiscing on southern family recipes, and encouraging each other to always be better humans.

Food photographer and painter Meghan Spiro responds to Matt Hutchin’s passing.

“I can’t believe you’re gone, Matt. I just saw you and said ‘see you later’ and not goodbye. I’m not ready. I thought we had more laughs, more collaborations.

“You were a maverick in the community and put Beacon on the map as a culinary destination over a decade ago. You packed so much flavor in your life and your food and your music. The force was always strong with you.

“You have a whole community in mourning. None of us were ready.”