Born and raised in the hills of Appalachia, Chef Matt Welsch has turned a life of exploration into a mission of storytelling through food. After years cooking in the Rockies and traveling America by motorcycle with his culinary blog The Vagabond Chef, he returned home to open Vagabond Kitchen in downtown Wheeling. His restaurant celebrates elevated Appalachian comfort food rooted in community and tradition. Welsch also founded WV Cooks, uniting chefs statewide, and serves as a WV Tourism Chef Ambassador, Executive Chef for WV State Parks, and Brand Ambassador for Appalachian Cellar, championing West Virginia’s flavors and culture.
