A British freelance food writer and regular contributor to national newspapers in both the UK and US. Part of his family is Mexican/Spanish, and his cultural background deeply informs his exploration of food as a connector across identity, geography, and memory.
Profile: Mid-to-late 30s, with a thoughtful, quietly charismatic presence; his energy is calm and suggests depth, an intellectual with a slightly rumpled charm.
Role: As a guest, he bridges historical and contemporary insights, challenging the listener with big-picture ideas, like how food can reflect migration patterns and be infused with geopolitical questions. Mateo brings in the deeper cultural and systemic angles: how media, politics, and ideology shape food. He asks the hard questions, "why" rather than "how", and adds nuance to the conversation.
Delivery: Educated (as opp. educational), intellectually intense, assiduous, reflective, emotional. High energy while remaining measured (think: Condé Nast)
