Maite Gomez-Rejón has worked in the education departments of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, LACMA and the Getty Villa; and has worked as a private chef and caterer. In 2008, she founded ArtBites, art and culinary history combined with hands-on cooking instruction. Her blog “Cooking Art History” is set to appear in The Huffington Post. Below, Gomez-Rejón tells us more about herself.
Q. What is the last thing that inspired you?
A. My family is in town right now, and having them here is very inspiring because they are eternal optimists.
Q. What comforts you?
A. Mole.
Q. When do you feel most creative?
A. Really early in the morning, before my first cup of coffee, and late late late at night – when it’s really quiet out, and all that I’ve experienced in the day comes together.
Q. How would you describe yourself in five words or fewer?
A. Nerd with style and social skills.
Q. If you could be anyone in history, who would you be?
A. Thomas Jefferson when he was living in Paris, because he was such a foodie, and he traveled all over and had the best wine and food and threw the best parties.
Q. What is your favorite thing about Los Angeles?
A. The Wednesday farmers’ market, the beach, where I go every morning, and Trader Joe’s. I didn’t know Trader Joe’s before I moved here.
Q. What is the best advice you have ever received?
A. There are two pieces of advice. The first was when I was about to take a job teaching art history in Texas. I was terrified, and someone told me, “If you’re scared, you should do it.” The second was when I was unhappy at a job, and we were celebrating the 50th birthday of one of my co-workers. Someone asked her for advice, and she said, “If you jump, the net will appear.” I quit my job the next day to do what I’m doing now.
Q. How did you get into trouble as a child?
A. I would dare my neighbor to break the neighbor’s windows. She always would do it, and I would always get in trouble.
Q. Where would we find you at 10 a.m. on a Saturday?
A. Teaching.
Q. What do you wish you had the nerve to do?
A. Bungee-jump.
Q. If you were about to be executed, what would you want for your final meal?
A. Mole with plantains.
Q. Who is the one person living or dead you would most like to meet for dinner?
A. Thomas Jefferson.
To read more about Gomez-Rejón’s panel on food photography, click here.
*Photo by Sarah Rivera.