13/08/2026
Hi, I’m Matt - also known as Papa.
I thought it was about time I showed the face behind Papa’s Tacos and shared why I started this adventure.
Food has always been a huge part of my life. I spent years in hospitality, from chef to managing restaurants, before leaving for a career in the public sector. But my heart never really left food. I’ve always loved cooking, creating recipes and seeing people enjoy something I’ve made.
In 2003, I travelled through Chile and across the Andes, where my love for Latin and South American food really took hold. The flavours, street food and culture stayed with me.
Then I became a dad. A few years and a few more kids later (four altogether 😆), family meals became an event. I’d put on Mexican-inspired evenings, experimenting with different flavours and recipes.
The kids called me Papa, they loved my tacos and the name just felt right.
Papa’s Tacos.
For years, though, it remained a dream. Work and life took over and I sacrificed far too much time that I could have spent watching my kids grow up.
Then, just over a year ago, I sadly lost my mum to lung cancer.
Losing her changed my perspective on life. I decided to listen to her advice, stop putting my dreams off and leave a career that no longer made me happy.
So I quit my job and started Papa’s Tacos.
Years of dreaming became real. I perfected my recipes, created the brand and menu and designed my little trailer, Rosa (yes, I named her 😂).
In May, I took her to our first event.
Since then, the support has blown me away. People come back to the hatch just to tell me they loved the food, message me afterwards and even travel to find me again.
I still dream of opening my own restaurant one day, but Papa’s is about more than that.
Hopefully, I’m building something I can one day leave to my children. Something they can be proud of and maybe even carry on.
A little family legacy that started with a dad, four kids, a love of tacos and a decision to finally chase a dream.
To everyone supporting Papa’s Tacos - thank you.
You’re helping me build something that means far more to me than just selling tacos.
Matt (Papa) 🖤
