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[title]By dinnertime at Chilte, L.T. Smith’s Phoenix restaurant, football-player-turned-chef Smith has already been to the gym, sourced diver scallops from a local fishmonger to put on tonight’s menu, posed for a daylong Mack Weldon photoshoot and prepped for a long night of service. Now, he’s working on the line; later, he’ll jump in to take over for a dishwasher.
“Every day’s game day,” Smith says. “We're calling plays, we're running tickets. Every plate, it's got to be a touchdown.”
After a college career as a standout wide receiver, Smith made it briefly to the NFL before being released. Looking for a new place to focus his singular passion and purpose, Smith turned to cooking.
“Taking everything I did from football for years and years,” he says, “the grit, the perseverance, working under pressure, working as a team, was just such a natural fit going from the field into the kitchen.”
Chilte, which started as a tent at a local farmer’s market, has grown into a legitimate phenomenon. Smith’s menu, which combines comfort foods like smashburgers and birria tacos with fine-dining techniques and elevated ingredients, has scored him accolades including spots on Esquire’s and Bon Appétit’s lists of Best New Restaurants, Food & Wine’s list of Best New Chefs and even a position as a semifinalist for the prestigious James Beard Award.
“The kitchen kept calling me,” Smith says, reflecting on Chilte’s rapid rise from its humble beginnings, “and we took to the streets to build it from the ground up.”
When New York-based menswear brand Mack Weldon needed someone to spotlight the versatility of its new Tech Linen collection, they were drawn to Smith’s dynamic lifestyle. From family meal to a weekend hang with his friends, new Tech Linen was the perfect fit—literally.
“When I'm coming into a ‘fit for the day, I need to be able to attack so many things that are going to pop up,” says Smith. “I’ve got to have something that I can flow with and be comfortable with on the line.”
Mack Weldon built its name by rethinking everyday staples with modern comfort and a timeless sense of style. Their Tech Linen sweater polos, quarter-zips, and hoodies feature an airy piqué texture, moisture-wicking COOLMAX technology for when things heat up in the kitchen, added stretch and machine washability.
These elevated styles speak to L.T. Smith’s laidback but luxurious approach to everything he puts on his menu. Plus, Mack Weldon’s Tech Linen collection is “super, super comfortable,” says Smith.
Despite his need for ease and comfort in his clothing, Smith also demands the same precision and performance he continues to expect from himself. He is, he says, “ambitious to a fault.”
“No matter what it is,” Smith says, “I’m always looking for a new challenge.” With Mack Weldon’s sharp, breathable Tech Linen collection, he’s ready to take it all on.