From five-star resorts to Food Network competitions, Executive Pastry Chef Matthew Ratliff has built a career defined by artistry, discipline, and dedication to the craft. A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, Chef Ratliff has spent decades learning from some of the best in the world — including three of the four Certified Master Pastry Chefs in the United States.
A Career Built on Excellence
Chef Ratliff began his journey at the CIA in Hyde Park, New York, where his passion for pastry quickly took root. After completing a fellowship as a teaching assistant, he went on to sharpen his skills in world-class kitchens such as the Ritz Carlton in Laguna Beach, Little Palm Island Resort in the Florida Keys, and The Inn at Perry Cabin in Maryland. In 2007, he joined the prestigious Everglades Club in Palm Beach, where he continues to lead with creativity, precision, and mentorship.
Over the years, Chef Ratliff has earned some of the industry’s highest distinctions, including World Certified Master Pastry Chef (WCMPC), Certified Master Baker (CMB), and Certified Executive Pastry Chef (CEPC). These certifications, he notes, aren’t just about the credentials on a resume — they’ve pushed him to new levels of technical mastery, efficiency, and consistency that shape every dessert leaving his kitchen.
Competition as a Teacher
For Chef Ratliff, pastry competitions have been more than an opportunity to showcase talent — they’ve been a crucible for growth. His portfolio of wins includes Food Network’s Sugar Impossible and Flying Sugar Challenges, multiple gold medals at the Florida Pastry Challenge, and recognition as ACF’s Regional Pastry Chef of the Year.
“What competitions teach you is focus,” he explains. “When you spend hundreds of hours perfecting a single showpiece, you learn every nuance of that product. That focus carries back into the kitchen — you know how to troubleshoot, refine, and improve in ways you never could without that depth of practice.”
Lessons Beyond the Kitchen
Organization, efficiency, and foresight are the pillars of Chef Ratliff’s leadership style. At the Everglades Club, he and his team begin planning Christmas and New Year’s menus as early as May — ensuring that the artistry and execution of each event can shine, even as the day-to-day demands of the pastry kitchen unfold.
Equally important to him is preparing the next generation of pastry chefs not just with technical skills, but with life lessons that extend beyond the kitchen. He emphasizes the importance of financial literacy — encouraging young chefs to invest early in their futures with tools like a 401k or IRA.
“I’ve seen too many chefs reach the later stages of their career with nothing saved,” he says. “Learning your finances is just as important as learning your craft. If you want to have a long and rewarding career in this industry, you need to take care of both.”
Giving Back to the Community
Throughout his career, Chef Ratliff has also lent his talents to charitable causes, from the Sweet Charity Fashion Show in Washington, D.C. to Meals on Wheels Delaware. For him, community involvement is both personally rewarding and a powerful way to uplift the industry as a whole.
“When you show up for your community, people remember,” he shares. “That word of mouth is more powerful than any ad you can buy, and the connections you build last for years.”
A Legacy of Learning
Looking back, Chef Ratliff says his greatest hope is to leave a legacy of mentorship — passing along not just technical expertise but also the mindset of persistence, organization, and lifelong learning.
“Don’t be afraid to fail,” he advises young bakers. “Practice, take notes, and always seek out the best people to learn from. Every mistake is part of the process, and every lesson compounds over time.”
From sugar artistry to leadership, from competition stages to quiet moments of mentorship, Chef Matthew Ratliff embodies the spirit of excellence that defines the pastry profession. His journey is a reminder that success isn’t just about beautiful desserts — it’s about discipline, vision, and lifting others along the way.