What to know
- KFC launched its collaboration with Canadian Celebrity Chef Matty Matheson
- The menu features artwork by Toronto tattoo artist, Alex Snelgrove
- The collaboration takes a Canadian staple – the poutine – south of the border.
Toronto celebrity chef Matty Matheson’s collaboration with global fried chicken franchise KFC is available nationwide for a limited time.
The menu – featuring sliders, sandwiches, and combos – comes in packaging designed by a local tattoo artist, Alex Snelgrove, who tells Now Toronto the project was “very special.”
If you know one thing about Matheson, it’s likely the fact that he is inked out from neck to toe.
“It’s surreal seeing [my work] in the stores and on advertisements,” Snelgrove says. “In creating these designs, my focus was on representing Matty proudly, while also showcasing my craft.”
“She’s one of my oldest friends,” Matheson says in the promotional video. “You like tattoos? Yea, you do. You like lickin’ your fingers? Yea, you do.”
“Matty is a Canadian culinary icon, so partnering with him for KFC Canada just felt right,” KFC Canada Sr. Marketing Manager Jordan Sequeira said in a statement.
“Together, we pushed this menu to the edge with indulgent, crave-worthy creations that feel unmistakably Canadian. At a time when everyone is watching their wallets, this menu delivers big flavour and serious satisfaction at a price that’s easy to love, all while staying Finger Lickin’ Good.”
The Bear star operates several restaurants throughout the city, including Matty’s Patty’s Burger Club and Prime Seafood Palace, both on Queen St. W. One of his restaurants, Bar Clams, closed its doors late 2025, and his joint-venture with Chef Rang Nguyen, Cà Phê Rang, is set to close its doors next week.
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Matheson’s fans were quick to head to the fast food location near them to try out the new collaboration, some of whom haven’t been to one in a long time.
@nowtoronto Toronto celebrity chef Matty Matheson’s collaboration with global fried chicken franchise KFC is available nationwide for a limited time, so Now Toronto had to check it out. 🍗 Read more at nowtoronto.com
♬ original sound – Now Toronto
“I have officially been influenced to go to KFC,” a TikTok user posted. “I haven’t been here in a long time.”
The collaboration is helping Canada’s national dish go international – the poutine.
“I’ve never had poutine before, so I’m excited for this,” a Tiktok user said.
“I’m not that big into gravy,” another said after taking a bite of the poutine. “But all of that together, that’s not even like a fast food item; that tastes like Matty himself cooked it. It tastes like a home-cooked meal.”
“All together the flavours work extremely well,” another said. “And of course they do. It’s chicken, cheese, gravy and potatoes. C’mon.”
@davebites Trying this secret limited time menu item at KFC, the Matty Melt Stacker #kfc #mattymatheson #mattymeltstacker #secretmenu #foodie ♬ Wall Street – Baby thug
KFC Canada is also dropping “weekly secret Matty-approved items” exclusively on its app (spoiler alert: for the inaugural week, it’s the Matty Melt Stacker, featuring two fried chicken fillets).
