About Chef Matthew Cooper:

Chef Cooper has spent decades building meaningful relationships with local growers, ranchers, and craftsmen who understand the importance of product integrity, place, and authenticity.

"I grew up in an environment where food brought us together as a family; it was kinda like the tie that bound us. My entire life and career have been about building meaningful connections that build, grow, and help us all. I love cooking and bringing people together with food. I am a humanitarian at heart, and helping people in general is my passion in life.”

Shaped by formal training and culinary projects throughout his career, Chef Cooper’s vision for community grew alongside his culinary craft. In 2022, he founded Conifer, which has now been nominated for multiple James Beard Awards. In 2024 and 2025, Conifer was a James Beard Semi-Finalist for “Best Chef - South.” Chef Cooper’s newest restaurant concept, Ryn, launched in 2025 and centers around a farm-to-table, multi-course Tasting Menu experience featuring ingredients grown onsite.

“We have an amazing community here in Northwest Arkansas. Planting the seeds of community is being able to realize we have to nurture individuals so we can learn and grow together. This is literally the definition of what Conifer is."