Mathew Rice, pastry chef and owner of Pink Door Cookies, died from colorectal cancer at Vanderbilt University Medical Center on July 22. He had lived with cancer for more than two years, doing so with his signature grace, joy and humor — many of his most ardent fans were unaware that he was ill.
Rice opened Pink Door Cookies during the pandemic after losing his executive pastry chef job at Pastaria as a result of the COVID-19 shutdowns. He first started selling the cookies from his home kitchen — as many talented chefs did then — and by the end of that year opened a jewel box of a cookie kitchen in Chestnut Hill.
The cookies and the business were named after the pink door at Rice's house. The tiny new shop was pink and fun, at a time when fun was in short supply. He tossed rainbow sprinkles into the epoxy on the white floor, assuring a dopamine boost even before customers ordered their cookies.
The Pink Door kitchen had regular hits, like the rainbow brownie and chocolate chip, as well as a rotating selection of seasonal favorites, including watermelon sugar, pink grapefruit gingersnap and s’mores, plus wheat-free and vegan cookies.
Pink Door Cookies caught on quickly because of Rice’s immense talent and sunny disposition. Before working as pastry chef at Pastaria, he helped owner and celebrity chef Gerard Craft open his Niche Food Group in 2025. On social media last week, Craft called Rice “one of America’s greatest pastry chefs. This isn’t hyperbole.” Rice also worked at The Publican and Girl & the Goat in Chicago and won the first all-dessert episode of the Food Network’s Chopped.
Pink Door expanded to the Nashville Farmers' Market and began shipping nationwide, still serving cookies from the Chestnut Hill shoebox. In 2024, it became clear that the space just could not keep up with demand. The business relocated to Sylvan Heights. The floor sprinkles were gone, but the whimsy, joy and cookies were not. The new, larger space has seating, with picnic tables outside, parking and a colorful carpet that brings to mind the roller rinks of youth.
On Instagram last week, the Pink Door account posted:
This is Chris, one of the owners of Pink Door and the life partner of Mathew Rice. I am so deeply sorry to inform all of you that Mathew passed away Wednesday evening. He was surrounded by love and he was not in any pain. Many of you did not know that for over 2 years, Mathew had been living with colorectal cancer. I say “living with” because he was never ever “dying from.” While it was never easy, he faced his diagnosis with bravery, courage, and a smile. He was so optimistic and positive. The true [embodiment] of optimistic vibes.”
Pink Door Cookies was his dream and what a beautiful dream it has become. He started Pink Door in 2020 during the pandemic, at a time when there wasn’t much to look forward to, much to be happy about. He wanted to bring joy to the community in some way. So he made cookies. But not just any cookies. HIS cookies. Staples like Chocolate Chip but also using his childhood memories as inspiration for flavors like PB&J and Cotton Candy. And when people had them, they smiled. They cried. They loved them. And they loved him.
So many of you who have met Mathew know how wonderful and magical he was. And he was that wonderful and magical person until the very end. It is a profoundly devastating loss in so many ways.
I hope you all understand that the shop will be closed at least through the weekend. If we decide to close longer, we’ll keep you posted here.
Thank you all so much for helping fulfill Mathew’s dream of spreading joy through a sweet treat. Your love and support has meant so much. We hope to see you again soon. Love you all bunches.
Rice’s worldview is evident on the Kickstarter page from when he launched Pink Door: “I know what you’re thinking, why on Earth would anyone even consider opening a cookie shop in the middle of a global pandemic?!” he wrote. “The answer is pretty simple: life still happens. We all still have birthdays. Anniversaries are still worthy of acknowledging. Even if we aren’t having big celebrations right now, we will again! But for now, a cookie here and there can make even the worst days a little bit, well, sweeter.”
