Matthias Merges

Matthias Merges

Keynote Speaker: Chef & Restaurateur; Founder of Folkart Restaurant Management; James Beard Award Nominee; Creator of Yusho & Billy Sunday

  • Travels From:
    Chicago, IL, USA
  • Speaking Fee:
    Live Event Fee: Contact us for details
    Virtual Event Fee: Contact us for details
    More Fee Info
  • Categories:
    Hospitality, Celebrity Chef, Business Leadership
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Matthias Merges Biography

Matthias Merges is a chef and restaurateur recognized for his contributions to Chicago's culinary industry. Merges began working in restaurants at age 14 and received formal training at the Culinary Institute of America. He refined his culinary skills at several Chicago establishments, including Carlos', the 95th, LaTour at the Park Hyatt, Charlie Trotter's, and Gabriel's. Merges later opened Metropolitan in Salt Lake City as chef and co-owner, a restaurant that received accolades such as "Best Restaurant Inter-Mountain West" and a James Beard Award nomination.

After 14 years at Charlie Trotter's in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood, including 12 years as chef de cuisine, Merges launched his own ventures. He opened "Yusho," a restaurant focused on Japanese street food in Logan Square, which expanded to Yusho Hyde Park and Yusho Las Vegas. Merges is the chef and proprietor of Folkart Restaurant Management, a hospitality group emphasizing operational excellence, design, and locally sourced ingredients. The group includes cocktail bar "Billy Sunday," craft brewery Old Irving Brewing, whiskey bar and restaurant "Mordecai," cocktail bars Hush Money and Spindle Bar, and brewpub Lucky Dorr.

Merges has promoted farm-to-table principles throughout his career, developing relationships with local farmers and partnering with Planted in Chicago to cultivate heirloom produce for his restaurants. He also consults with companies such as Amtrak, United Airlines, Angostura, and Cuisine Solutions, providing expertise in culinary operations and menu development.

Active in Chicago's culinary and hospitality community, Merges is co-founder of Pilot Light, an organization that connects classroom lessons to food and nutrition to help children make healthier choices. Pilot Light chefs collaborate with educators to create hands-on classroom experiences, integrating cooking with subjects such as geography, science, language, and social studies. Merges has served as chairman of Pilot Light's board of directors.

Merges and his restaurants have been featured in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Food & Wine, Condé Nast Traveler, Robb Report, NBC, Fox, WGN, Chicago Tribune, and Chicago Magazine. His career spans fine dining, neighborhood restaurant concepts, and community engagement, establishing him as a prominent figure in American culinary culture.

Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Matthias Merges and other top speakers and celebrities.

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How do I book Matthias Merges to speak at my event?

Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Matthias Merges for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Matthias Merges, or call our office at 1.855.383.8805 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Matthias Merges or any other speaker of your choice.

How much does it cost to book Matthias Merges for a speaking engagement?

Speaking fees for Matthias Merges, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. For the most current speaking fee to hire Matthias Merges, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.855.383.8805 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.

What topics does Matthias Merges speak about?

Matthias Merges is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Hospitality, Celebrity Chef and Business Leadership.

Where does Matthias Merges travel from?

Matthias Merges generally travels from Chicago, IL, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.

Who is the agent for Matthias Merges?

AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Matthias Merges for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.855.383.8805, and one of our agents will assist you to book Matthias Merges for your next private or corporate function.

What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Matthias Merges or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.

Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.

Matthias Merges is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Hospitality, Celebrity Chef and Business Leadership. Please contact us for live or virtual event fee details. Matthias Merges generally travels from Chicago, IL, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Roy Choi, David Chang and Andrew Black. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Matthias Merges for an upcoming event.

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Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 10/08/2026.

  • How do I book Matthias Merges to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Matthias Merges for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Matthias Merges, or call our office at 1.855.383.8805 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Matthias Merges or any other speaker of your choice.

  • How much does it cost to book Matthias Merges for a speaking engagement?

    Speaking fees for Matthias Merges, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. For the most current speaking fee to hire Matthias Merges, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.855.383.8805 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.

  • What topics does Matthias Merges speak about?

    Matthias Merges is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Hospitality, Celebrity Chef and Business Leadership.

  • Where does Matthias Merges travel from?

    Matthias Merges generally travels from Chicago, IL, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.

  • Who is the agent for Matthias Merges?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Matthias Merges for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.855.383.8805, and one of our agents will assist you to book Matthias Merges for your next private or corporate function.

  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Matthias Merges or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.

  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
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