Mateo Reyes

Staff Writer, Culinary Roots

Born in Los Angeles to a family of Mexican restaurateurs, Mateo's life has always revolved around the kitchen. After training at the Culinary Institute of America and working in several Michelin-starred restaurants, he felt a pull to explore the stories behind the food he was cooking. He pursued a degree in anthropology and began documenting culinary traditions in Latin America and the American Southwest. His work has been featured in 'Saveur' and 'Gastronomica,' and his documentary series 'The Migrant's Table' won a James Beard Award for Visual Media. Mateo's writing is sensory and deeply personal, celebrating food as a carrier of culture and memory.