SLA Buff: Matt Sorrell
The Saint Louis Author (SLA) Buff blog highlights the unique and surprising authors who live and write in Mound City.
Reedy Press released St. Louis freelance writer Matt Sorrell’s book Matt’s St. Louis Food Story on September 1. He’s been writing about food in town since the early 2000s, and his work has been featured locally and nationally. His last book is a collaboration with Chef Clara Moore—Shop Like a Chef: As food Loves Guide to St.Louis Neighborhoods. I wanted to learn why Matt writes about food and why—I did!
Matt will be signing copies at Barnes & Noble, West County Mall, Des Peres this Saturday, September 13 from 12 to 3 p.m
What is the purpose of this book?
Eating is a fun way to explore, and it is low risk. You try it, you don’t like it, you move on. You like it, you come back. As much as possible, I wanted to get people out of their comfort zone to try different, new food. We’re very provincial. We all have a few blocks radius we tend to frequent, and anything outside of that seems too far away. I’m trying to change that with Matt’s St. Louis Food Story.
Why write about food? What led you to that?
In the early 2000s, I was looking for freelance opportunities. When Sauce Magazine appeared in 2001, I sent an email, ended up getting assignments, and started learning a lot about the local food scene and restaurants.
I have always been fascinated with commercial kitchens in restaurants. I’m not a cook but I love the hustle and bustle. Over the years I interviewed a bunch of different bartenders and realized that what they do is culinary, and I might be able to do it. When you make a drink, the risk is low; we’re only talking about a few ounces. So if you screw it up, it’s not like ruining a good and very expensive piece of meat. So, I started bartending. Writing for Sauce led to writing for Feast and St Louis Magazine, among other publications.
Why write a book?
Twelve years ago, a chef friend named Clara Moore had been working on a book about grocery stores, and food shopping. She asked me to help. When the book was coming up on its 10th anniversary, I contacted several local publishers to see if they’d be interested in doing a Volume 2. None of them were interested at the time. But one publisher, Josh Stevens from Reedy Press, reached out to me later with an idea for a food guidebook, which eventually became St. Louis Food Story.
I wanted to represent and contribute to the good reputation of the St. Louis Food Industry. I'm part of it, I have high regard for it, and I respect the people who work in it. Everyone--owners, cooks, dishwashers--it's a hard gig. I wanted to make sure they got light shined on them.
Tell me about the cover
The cover was created by a local artist named Dan Zettwoch. He did a fantastic job! He’s very much in-demand, and we were lucky to get him to create this cover for the book.
How did you choose the restaurants featured in the book? Were you worried any of them would go out of business before you published the book?
Many of them are places I've worked and am a fan of. In addition, I wanted people to know about places they might not have tried--historical, brand new, ethnically non-American. I focused on really cool cuisines and neighborhoods--Cherokee, Grand. I wanted to create a path for people to get out of their comfort zones.
As far as staying in business, I wasn't too worried. As I was writing, I kept talking to the editors and kept my ear to the ground. Places do go out of business all the time. I am happy to say that didn't happen! We were considering other ideas in case we lost one. It is a crapshoot business, I don't see how people do it.
The author, Matt Sorrell
What will you do next?
I work at Bistro La Florisan in Clayton and will continue to do that. I have a couple of book ideas that I am running by Reedy Press-- books on food and drink in the St. Louis area, also on near East side, and a little further west. I'm as bad as the next guy as far as getting out of my comfort zone, and I’d really like to explore these areas more.
I would love to write a follow-up to Food Story in a couple of years. If I had included every place that deserved to be in the book, it would have been very long. As small as this metro is, we have a lot of really great restaurants and shops. I don't think a lot of people understand that. You don't have to go to Chicago to eat well
Matt will be signing copies of Matt's St. Louis Food Story as follows:
Barnes & Noble, West County Mall, Des Peres, Saturday, September 13, 12 to 3 p.m.
Main Street Books St. Charles, Saturday, September 20, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
The Ultimate St. Louis Breakfast, (making drinks and selling books), Cedars Banquet Hall, 939 Lebanon Drive, St. Louis, Saturday, September 27, 9 to 11 a.m.
The Royale, 3132 S. Kingshighway Blvd., St. Louis, Friday, October 10, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
The Novel Neighbor, 7905 Big Bend Blvd., Webster Groves, Saturday, October 11, 4 to 5 p.m.
Vom Fass, 7314 Manchester Rd., Maplewood, Sunday, October 19, 3 to 5 p.m.
And other events in the works all around town.
