Matt Gallaher always dreamed of cooking for two people: Peyton Manning and Dolly Parton.
Half of that dream came true in December 2012 when the Queen of Country sat down with a Tennessee governor and his wife for a meal prepared by the Knoxville chef, who like so many East Tennesseans has been reflecting on the way Parton touched his life.
Before becoming the owner of Emilia and Paysan Bagels, Gallaher spent nearly two years as the personal chef for former Gov. Bill Haslam. And before that, he toured the world as the personal chef for alternative rock band Kings of Leon.
His profession has awarded him plenty of unique opportunities and put him in the company of celebrities, he said, but meeting Parton after the meal he prepared was an experience
like none other.
"Her presence was exactly as you would imagine. There's no pretense," he said. "She owned everything. She owned her wigs. Even though part of who she was was artificial, she owned it."
Most of the time, the governor's dinner guests were hospital administrators or the executives of high-profile companies. But every once in a while, the Haslams would bring visitors to their Nashville home who left him starstruck. Parton was one of those people.
"She doesn't eat much," Gallaher told Knox News. "I think that's well documented. She has potatoes. But otherwise, she kind of eats like a bird."
Before they turned to smile for the camera, Gallaher told Parton about his dream of one day opening a restaurant, which prompted her to ask whether he would hang their picture inside. Gallaher's response, as he recalls it: "Hell, I'll put it on the front door."
Gallaher grew up on a 170-acre farm with a mile-long driveway in the Kodak neighborhood of Sevier County, where Parton was raised about 25 miles southeast in Locust Ridge. He didn't have cable, and Parton's songs were not a part of his childhood, but he still remembers the musician being an influential part of growing up in East Tennessee.
Parton was always an icon, he said.
Long before Gallaher cooked for Parton, his great-grandfather became Dollywood's millionth visitor and earned a trip to visit Parton at her home in Hawaii. He brought along his wife, creating a family story Gallaher remembers decades later.
Gallaher grew up hearing about the trip, down to the smallest details. His great-grandfather described every corner of Parton's mansion, from a retractable television to a closet full of wigs, some of which Gallaher's great-grandmother tried on.
Moments like these illustrate a legacy that stretched far beyond music, movies or business ventures. For many, Parton's greatest gift was her generosity and care for others.
"The act of giving is so much more meaningful than receiving," Gallaher said. "She kind of took that idea and lit it on fire."
Knox News reporter Joanna Hayes covers restaurants and retail for the business growth and development team. Email: joanna.hayes@knoxnews.com; Instagram: @knoxeat65. Sign up for Joanna's Eat65 email newsletter to get the latest drink and dining news, as well as restaurant recommendations, at knoxnews.com/newsletters.
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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Before he cooked for Dolly, Knoxville chef's family visited her Hawaii home