The Tuesday Thirteen: Marc Matsumoto {No Recipes} Talks ‘Chopped’, Blogging and Bobby Flay
The Tuesday Thirteen
Marc Matsumoto, No Recipes
Marc Matsumoto is the genius behind the blogs No Recipes and The Wandering Cook. He travels the world to bring new inspiration to his kitchen, then he creates that inspiration without recipes. You’ve probably seen him on tv commercials and the Food Network. Now he’s going to give you a look at how he does it all.
1.
Marc, The dishes on your site are stunning and you seem like a natural. Have you always been interested in food? Was there any one person that started you on your culinary journey?
Marc: My single mother who taught cooking classes out of our house when I was younger was definitely a big inspiration. I loved to eat before I loved to cook, but I definitely started cooking young. Maybe 5 or 6?
2.
Starting so young is probably one reason you have become so familiar with the way food works. Your blog is called No Recipes. So…do you cook everything without a recipe?
Marc: I’m definitely not anti-recipe. There was a time when I was younger that most of my cooking was done out of a book or magazines, but I was always asking “why”. For example, “Why brown onions?” or “Why is it bad to overmix batter”. Unfortunately many cookbooks of the time were written for brevity and lacked any explanations on the process. It’s my belief that if you understand some basic cooking techniques, all it takes is a little inspiration and confidence to cook without recipes. That’s why I try to write out my whole process from inspiration through execution in my posts. I’ll still have a look at recipes from time to time, but most of my inspiration these days comes from daydreaming, or trips to the market.
3.
Marc: I think one of the foundations of cooking is learning how to build umami in a dish. Whether it’s taking advantage of the Maillard reaction to brown meats and vegetables, or making a great stock, umami is like the difference between seeing in 2D and 3D. Beyond that, I’m a believer in throwing firm rules out the window. Some of my best creations have come out of unlikely pairings or contrarian cooking techniques.
4.
Marc: Gosh, that’s kind of like asking a parent which child they like best! I really can’t come up with just one. It all depends on my mood, and the ingredients that I have on hand.
5.
Marc: Take better photos. A dish may taste fantastic, but since we can’t smell, touch or taste the food over the Internet, being able to see how good a dish makes the difference between someone reading all about it and moving on to the next blog. Check out this interview I did with Reluctant Gourmet last year for some photo tips.
6.
Marc: I’d say it’s harder than it looks. We’ve all sat on the couch watching and cursing at the TV because the chef didn’t use an ingredient they way we would have, but you literally have 20 minutes from the time you open your basket until the dish has to be plated. They start you waaay too early in the morning, and you don’t have much time to familiarize yourself with the pantry. Worst of all, if you’re up last to be judged, your food sits there for over an hour and a half before it’s tasted. Personally I was so worried about plating on time I actually ended up finishing about 5 minutes early. I think I got dinged for that.
7.
Marc: To be honest, I wasn’t much of a Bobby Flay fan until I was on his show. He’s genuinely nice and a funny guy which made shooting that episode a lot of fun. What surprised me the most though is the fact that he remembered me on several occasions after the shoot when we ran into each other at an event.
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10.
Marc: As bad as this may sound, I’m not a huge fan of social networks personally. I’d much rather interact with people in person. That said, because my blog is my business, I use social networks that drive traffic. Right now, Pinterest, is pretty high on my list of favorites. As for Instagram, I love that it lets me do things on my cellphone that I’d normally have to do in Lightroom.
11.
Marc: Absolutely! I’m as passionate about exploring the world as I am as about exploring the kitchen. Travel is a huge source of inspiration for me in the kitchen and I love learning about cultures through their food. One of my favorite places in the world is Bhutan. The people are warm, the scenery is breathtaking and they have an interesting cuisine somewhere between Indian and Chinese food (which is also where the country is situated). In terms of food though Tokyo, Seoul, New York and Singapore are some of my favorite eating cities.
12.
Thirteen.
Marc: If I knew that, the future wouldn’t be much fun! I plan to keep doing what I’m doing, exploring the world, and making food that inspires me.
Great interview and very inspiring Marc! Thanks again for joining us on The Tuesday Thirteen. To find inspiration in your own kitchen and learn more about Marc Matsumoto, check out his blogs No Recipes and The Wandering Cook and be sure to read his interview with Reluctant Gourmet for some great photography tips.
The Tuesday Thirteen is an interview series that asks thirteen questions to your favorite people in food. If you have questions you are curious to ask food bloggers, cookbook authors, publicists, food photographers, etc., please send your questions to miranda@mangoesandchutney.com.
