Meet Me in Medford | "Chef C" of Bistro 489

By 4Squares Residential Group with Judi 411

Where the students cook, the community eats, and everyone leaves a little happier.

What if we told you there’s a restaurant in town that serves delicious breakfast and lunch—and hardly anyone knows about it?

Well, no more—cat’s out of the bag! Bistro 489 at the Medford Voke is one of the city’s best-kept secrets. Tucked inside the high school on Winthrop Street, it’s part classroom, part café, and all heart. The food? Legit delicious. The mission? Even better. Under the guidance of three culinary instructors—including Chef Matthew “Chef C” Crook—students run a full-service kitchen that serves both teachers and the public.

We caught up with Chef C to talk about the magic that happens behind the Bistro’s swinging doors—where breakfast smells like opportunity and lunch comes with a side of life skills.

How did you find your way to Medford and the Voke’s culinary program?

I’ve worked in food since college, mostly catering, and spent years around Cambridge and Boston. During the pandemic, I worked at Goldilox Bagels—the owner’s a good friend—and heard from a former student that a position might open at the Voke. I thought, Maybe it’s time to teach. It felt meant to be.

It’s funny—until I started working in Medford, I didn’t realize how close-knit it really is. Everyone seems to have a connection to the Voke. That sense of community pulled me in right away.

What made you decide teaching was the right move?

The way the program handled the process. The first time around, Chef P, Ethan Pearlstein, got the role, and I was the second choice. But the Career & Technical Education director, Chad Fallon, sent a thoughtful note, “We were impressed by your skills, knowledge and attitude; I will reach out if another position opens.” 

It was a leap into a whole new career, but the chance to share what I know—and see students light up when something clicks—made it worth every bit of the learning curve.

Give us the Bistro 489 snapshot.

We serve breakfast and lunch Tuesday through Friday, open to both teachers and the public. It’s a fully functioning restaurant inside a school. Students rotate through every role—prep cook, baker, line cook, host, server. They greet guests, take orders, and manage the kitchen line, all while instructors coach in real time.

It’s the best kind of controlled chaos, and every service teaches something new.

What’s your favorite part about teaching?

The variety. One minute I’m developing a recipe, the next I’m showing someone how to julienne, answering a question from a guest, or helping a teacher get lunch. I tell students, “I look busy because I am—but always ask.” The kitchen is in constant motion, and I love that pace.

There’s also the moment when a student nails something for the first time—a perfectly seared chicken breast, a piping-bag swirl that’s photo-worthy. Those are wins that build big confidence.

The Bistro seems to do more than daily service.

Definitely. We do community catering when it fits the curriculum—we’re a classroom first, so we say yes when we can do it right. We recently participated in an eighth-grade open house where students were the featured guests. Students gather mise en place, mix dough, portion, bake—the whole chocolate-chip-cookie operation happens live so families can see the learning in action.

We made hundreds of cookies that night, and it’s all hands on deck. You can practically follow the smell down the hallway.

Where do students go after the program?

We’ve placed students at Goldilox Bagels and Earls Kitchen + Bar at Assembly Row, among others. Some go straight into restaurant jobs, others pursue culinary school, and a few even come back to mentor the next group.

We also host a yearly advisory dinner with local chefs and food-service professionals who share with our students what’s happening in the industry—what skills matter most, what trends are coming, what’s changing in kitchens today.

Any new developments in the program?

A big one—we added a third instructor at the end of last year, Vanessa Still - Chef V, an executive chef from the Hawthorne Hotel in Salem. She brought incredible energy and industry perspective. We’re expanding thoughtfully—talking burgers and grilled-chicken sandwiches, and planning for online ordering to better serve teachers with short lunch windows. (Because hangry teachers are no joke.)

We’re also growing our pastry and catering side. There’s always a new project brewing—literally and figuratively.

What moments capture why this program matters?

A student recently ran table service while her family visited on different days—uncle, mom, and grandfather. Watching her confidence as she worked and introducing guests to “the person responsible for that cupcake”—that pride is everything.

We want our students to see that what they do has value, that it connects to real people. They learn that feedback—good or bad—is part of growing. And when they hear praise, I remind them to take it in without qualifying it or brushing it off. Accepting a compliment gracefully is a life skill, too.

How do first-time guests react to Bistro 489?

“Pleasantly surprised” is what we hear again and again. One freshman said it felt like a standalone restaurant—“surprising given the brutalist architecture of the school.” We don’t expect that reaction; we earn it.

People come in thinking they’re supporting students—and they are—but they leave genuinely impressed by the food and the service. That’s the best compliment we can get.

Bistro 489 at a Glance

• Where: Medford Vocational Technical High School, 489 Winthrop Street

• When: Breakfast & lunch, Tuesday–Friday (when school is in session)

• Who’s welcome: Teachers & the public

• Expect: Student-led service, instructor guidance, and a menu that evolves with the curriculum

• Extras: Select community catering by request (availability varies)

Pro tip: Come hungry, come curious, and cheer on the next generation of Medford’s culinary pros. And grab a cookie—you’ll thank us later.

Bistro 489 isn’t a typical school café; it’s a community experience. Stop in for breakfast or lunch, support the students, and discover one of Medford’s best-kept (and most delicious) secrets.

Because around here, the recipe for success starts with a dash of curiosity, a pinch of patience, and a whole lot of heart.

Meet Me in Medford is a community series celebrating the people and places that make Medford more than a city—it’s home.

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