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Matt Armendariz of Matt Bites: What’s in Your Fridge Friday?
Up until 2000, he was working with Whole Foods Market, starting at the Brodie Oaks location in Austin while he was a student at Austin Community College. He then moved to Chicago when the company started its Midwest expansion and eventually to San Francisco when he became Whole Foods’ creative and artistic director.
He lives in L.A. now with his food stylist husband, Adam (and when you see Matt’s food photos, you’ll see why it’s a match made in heaven). Armendariz says he didn’t get serious about making photographs until two or three years ago. Now, in addition to keeping up MattBites.com, which was one of the charter members of Martha Stewart’s inner circle of blogs, he shoots a mix of editorial and advertising food photos.
“Ever since the Martha Stewart appearance last year (he baked cookies with the Queen on her daytime television show), it’s been really crazy,” he says. But being in the spotlight hasn’t gone to his head. You can find him connecting with bloggers across the country on Twitter, and he’s always got an eye out for what’s going on in his hometown.
What three things are always in your fridge? Eggs, Sambal, Tortillas, Kewpie Mayo. (ok, you said three but I had to pick four).
What’s your favorite condiment? Nuoc Cham. Hands down it’s Nuoc Cham. I can’t really be without it now as it adds dimension to so many things I cook. I’m addicted. And it’s not jjust for Vietnamese Food!
What’s your favorite food to photograph? It’s a tie between pomegranates and artisan cheeses. Poms are so beautiful, sensual, a bit scary and full of so much detail it’s insane. And artisan cheeses — not the mass produced blocks of cheese — but true beautiful handmade cheeses. Especially if they’re rubbed in ash, cocoa, grape leaves, soaked in wine, buried in the ground, strained through a basket, you see where I’m going with this. So much texture, color and shape. And then I get to eat them when I’m done.
I’m always on the hunt for interesting refrigerators. If you want to show off yours, take a photo of it (please resist the urge to clean or rearrange) and send it to abroyles@statesman.com.
(Photos by Matt Armendariz.)
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By Terry Mtz
May 1, 2009 11:59 AM | Link to this
Wow. Congrats on getting Matt to participate!
By Penny De Los Santos
May 1, 2009 12:03 PM | Link to this
I love Matt Armendariz’s work. So talented and such a good person.
By David Eger
May 1, 2009 5:34 PM | Link to this
Ha ha ha…. Looks not unlike the contents of my own fridge! (Except for that hu-u-uge pot of chili and pan of cornbread.)
By zoe
May 4, 2009 2:32 PM | Link to this
Cool interview, he is so talented.
By foodwoolf
May 5, 2009 3:05 PM | Link to this
Oh no. I was supposed to refrigerate my Walnut Oil? Oh god….
By aimeesmom
May 6, 2009 1:00 PM | Link to this
i love mattbites.com. no longer have the luxury of cable tele, so I get my food inspiration from his blog. he is so talented.
www.nurture-baby.com
By Bridget
August 2, 2010 10:04 PM | Link to this
Great post!! Thanks for sharing this backstory about Matt Armendariz. He’s a super talent! Love his pictures and narrative.
Thank you.
Bridget