Matt Kirouac

Matt Kirouac is a food and travel writer, author, and podcaster based in Oklahoma City. After attending culinary school at Robert Morris University in Chicago, he transitioned into food writing and began freelancing for outlets like Serious Eats, Zagat, Daily Candy, Tasting Table, and others. He lived in an RV for two years, traveling the country and writing about his travels (with an emphasis on national parks, Disney World, and restaurants) for outlets like Travel + Leisure, Thrillist, Eater National, TripSavvy, AAA Magazine, and Culture Trip.

He has also served as the online editor for Zagat Chicago and authored two books: The Hunt: Chicago (2016) and Unique Eats & Eateries of Chicago (2017). He co-hosted a travel podcast with iHeartRadio called "Parklandia" and, along with his husband, created and hosted a national parks podcast, website, and app called "Hello Ranger."

What's your desert island food?

"Sushi, because it's one of the rare foods I can eat daily and not get tired of. Plus, I'd imagine I could at least attempt to catch my own fish and DIY my own sushi. Would also be nice to have German chocolate cake, but that's considerably more challenging for a desert island setting."

What's your favorite condiment?

"Ever since going to Thailand in 2018, I've been obsessed with fish sauce, and I use it as a default condiment for splashing on vegetables, noodles, et cetera. It's just such a mighty flavor bomb, and a little goes a long way. It's definitely polarizing, and not for everyone, but I love the funk of it."