Matthew Amster-Burton writes frequently for Gourmet.com, Culinate.com, Seattle Magazine, and the Seattle Times. He is the author of Hungry Monkey: A Food-Loving Father’s Quest to Raise an Adventurous Eater, and his work has been featured in the Best Food Writing anthology multiple times. Find him online at rootsandgrubs.com.
Matthew Amster-Burton
Contributing Writer

Matthew Amster-Burton on gourmet.com
chefs + restaurants
Restaurants Now: Tavern Law
(Seattle) — Pouring everything from fizzes to flips, this brand-new speakeasy keeps the focus on good, old-fashioned liquids.
09.29.09
- Keywords
- miles thomas,
- restaurants now,
- bars,
- seattle,
- matthew amster-burton
food + cooking
Cooking Asian Food at Home
Why don’t more people try their hand at Asian cuisine? It might have something to do with high school French class.
09.23.09
- Keywords
- poultry,
- korean,
- seattle,
- matthew amster-burton
chefs + restaurants
Eight Great Street-Food Vendors in Seattle
From hot dogs to Thai food to tacos of all (well, at least two) nations, you don’t need to step indoors to have lunch or dinner covered.
09.22.09
- Keywords
- eight great,
- street food,
- seattle,
- culinary culture,
- matthew amster-burton
food + cooking
Fried Chicken Worth Stripping For
My first experience with Korean fried chicken brought out the animal—or was it the baby?—in me.
09.02.09
- Keywords
- poultry,
- korean,
- seattle,
- matthew amster-burton
food + cooking
Hi-Chew: Better than a Real Mango?
This Japanese candy captures the true flavor of the tropical fruit.
07.28.09
- Keywords
- candy,
- seattle,
- japanese,
- fruit,
- matthew amster-burton
food + cooking
The Vietnamese Frappuccino
I recently invented a simple, delicious new recipe for blended iced coffee. But I couldn’t be the first to have thought of it, could I?
06.02.09
- Keywords
- vietnamese,
- asian,
- coffee,
- beverages,
- matthew amster-burton
food + cooking
Korean Tacos Come in off the Street
It all started with Kogi BBQ, the Los Angeles taco truck with the cult following. Now Korean tacos are taking other cities by storm—and your home kitchen could be next....
05.28.09
- Keywords
- asian,
- korean,
- los angeles,
- tacos,
- matthew amster-burton
chefs + restaurants
Chris Bianco’s Pizza Philosophy
For the chef-owner of Phoenix’s famed Pizzeria Bianco, making pies offers a measure of control over the universe—but not so much that things get boring.
05.05.09
- Keywords
- chris bianco,
- pizza,
- phoenix,
- chefs,
- matthew amster-burton
food + cooking
Stir-Fried Potatoes?
This Sichuan preparation renders the familiar tuber almost unrecognizable—in a very good way.
04.22.09
- Keywords
- asian,
- chinese,
- new york,
- ingredients,
- matthew amster-burton
chefs + restaurants
Seattle: Anchovies & Olives
(SEATTLE) - Who could resist ordering sausage-stuffed red mullet?
04.17.09
- Keywords
- seattle,
- seafood,
- restaurants now,
- matthew amster-burton