"Life Well Fed"....An Exclusive Interview with Celebrity Chef Matthew Kenney of HUMBL

Burgers, fries, pizza, ice-cream, and milkshakes that won’t harm your health? You better believe it. A foodie’s dream come true!

The first ever plant-based fast casual restaurant HUMBL will be in Windermere Village in Horizon West. The first location is due to open its doors at 5845 Winter Garden Vineland Road, Windermere, Florida this week.

World-renowned plant-based chef and entrepreneur Matthew Kenney is the genius behind the creative menu items featured at HUMBL. Kenney, an LA-based celebrity chef is a two-time James Beard nominee, winner of Food and Wine Magazine’s Best New Chef Award and Veg News Chef of the Year. He is known as one of front runners behind the plant-based raw food movement and has been on featured on major media outlets, written numerous books, and was featured in the Ted Talk “Crafting the Future of Food”. Chef Kenney will serve as the brands chief culinary officer for HUMBL.

Local Orlando entrepreneurs and co-founders of HUMBL Paul Mascia and Eric Koeser joined forces with Chef Kenney to create the mission, concept, and menu. Both Paul and Eric have opened several restaurants in Orlando and are trail-blazers in the community for bringing new business ventures to our city.

What is more incredible about HUMBL is their work to make an impact in the world , one meal at a time. You as a guest of HUMBL will play a huge role in that mission. HUMBL offers a 1 for 1 program, providing a meal to a hungry child for every meal purchased, with each location estimated to provide 70,000 meals a year. They work with Second Harvest Food Bank to serve local hunger needs and Kids Around The World. Moreover, all HUMBL employee uniforms and merchandise are purchased from AGAPE International Missions - a program that rescues and restores human trafficking survivors.

Local Orlando Food Blogger Margot of The Wandering Maven and the Horizon West Happenings team sat down with both Paul Mascia, Co- Founder of HUMBL and Matthew Kenney for an exclusive interview.

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How did both of you come together to create the mission and concept of HUMBL?

PAUL: “We knew we had a great idea, but we needed a fantastic chef. Matthew and our team both shared the vision of what was possible for fast casual dining and came together to develop an innovative menu that stayed true to the HUMBL brand.”

What is your anticipation for how Horizon West and the greater Central Florida community will react to this new plan-based concept?

MATTHEW: “The food is very clean and great for the community from a health perspective. We’re excited to be able to provide that here in Horizon West and across Central Florida as we move forward.”

PAUL: “There is nothing like this in the community. The menu is a lot of fun and healthy and something we think the community will really enjoy. We think everyone will really be excited for this new addition.”

Paul, as Co-founder of HUMBL, what is your background in the community?

PAUL: “I have been in Orlando almost 40 years, I grew up here and went to Rollins. I am a recovering attorney in the corporate environment and later got involved in real estate. I then ventured into entrepreneurship and have been eating plant based this past year. I am super excited to bring HUMBL to the community”

Matthew, what was the turning point in your life that led you to choose the plant-based lifestyle?

MATTHEW: “Years ago before I became a plant-based chef, I was invited to a raw food plant-based restaurant in New York. That night, I saw the people glowing with health. I fell in love with the passion of the guests at that restaurant, and I felt so great after eating the meal after leaving. I knew I wanted to be a part of it. The rest is history after that day. I saw the shift in the food paradigm.”

What drives your passion for Plant-Based Cuisine?

MATTHEW: “Being able to bring people closer to the idea that you can have great tasting food that is also good for you and good for the environment is really where I found my passion. My culinary background led me to really focus on flavor. There seems to be this idea that healthy food can’t be rich and full of flavor and that’s what I want to show people. You can have both!”

What would you say to those in the Orlando community on why they should try HUMBL for those unfamiliar with plant-based food?

PAUL: “You don’t have to sacrifice quality or taste to try something plant-based. We have delicious flavors and offerings that are flavorful and nutritious. When you step in and try it you don’t have to commit to a life change, but we want everyone to experience this flavorful exciting food. Our menu will be wonderful for our community and something everyone will love.”

What are the benefits you saw in your life once you followed the raw food plant-based diet?

MATTHEW: “I was starting to get aches and pains before I was plant based. Once I changed, the first thing I noticed was a change in my mental clarity. My sleep was better and my overall health was forever improved. I was eating more superfoods and eating large quantities of raw foods. I feel 10 years younger.”

You guys built this incredible menu that’s unlike anything available in a fast-casual concept. Do either of you have a favorite menu item?

PAUL: “I’d have to say that the HUMBL burger and the pizzas! It didn’t happen all at once. There were many iterations before we finally found the perfect flavor profile and once it happened it was just like, this is it. The soft-serve ice cream is also a huge favorite. It’s really fun and offers a great alternative to traditional dairy ice cream.”

MATTHEW: “The HUMBL burger. It is perfectly done, and we think it’s going to resonate with people in a big way. It was a labor of love and after lots of test recipes, seeing all the components come together in this way to create a great tasting burger, really just feels good.”

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Sneak Peak of HUMBL’s Menu

We had the honor of receiving a sneak preview of some of the menu items guests will get to enjoy at HUMBL. To view the entire menu, click here. Our favorite menu items were the HUMBL burger, soft serve ice-cream, the 6105 Nachos, and the Truffle Toast.

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The Future of HUMBL in Orlando

There are plans in the works right now for the HUMBL team to open additional locations in the Orlando market, including one in the new food hall concept in Ivanhoe Village and Oviedo. HUMBL continues to spread their message of providing healthy sustainable food for communities in Orlando and nationally.

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Stay Up to Date and Get Free Food

Stay up to date on opening dates, specials, new locations, and your chance to get free food by joining the HUMBL club. Sign up here at this link.

Be sure to follow HUMBL on Instagram @humbl.eats and Facebook at @HUMBL.

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Horizon West Eats is your resource for all things food in Horizon West! We are dedicated to bringing you exciting news, interviews, discounts, deals and reviews on restaurants in our community. Make sure you’re following along on Instagram at @horizonwesteats and Facebook at Horizon West Eats .

Margot Tejera is the creator and owner of The Wandering Maven . She is a premiere Central Florida-based Food and Travel Blogger. Her passion is to share behind the scenes stories and insights both locally and internationally. Margot works to help promote brand awareness, introduce culinary and community happenings and bring the community together. Follow along her journey on Instagram at @the.wandering.maven and on Facebook at @TheWanderingMaven