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Posted by: Matthew
NewsOK
By George Lang
With Valentine’s Day falling on a Sunday, my wife Laura and I observed the greeting-card holiday with a Friday evening officially dedicated to dinner and “whatever.” But what we experienced was a kind of living, breathing love letter to our amazing, evolving city.
Our first stop was dinner at Matthew Kenney OKC, the first tenant at Classen Curve. If anything is emblematic of the change in Oklahoma City, it is the emergence of Classen Curve in a city segment that previously felt like an ellipsis between Belle Isle and Nichols Hills. This high-end retail area is so markedly different from any other in the city that it is likely to shift the traffic flow, particularly for people looking for the kind of experience that used to mean three hours of driving.
But while the clean lines of Classen Curve’s architecture set the tone for a new experience, Matthew Kenney OKC was the payoff, with its extraordinary raw food cuisine. As a vegetarian with pescatarian privileges, the unbelievable pho and coconut curry at Matthew Kenney OKC made me think that I could go all the way as a vegan if only I could prepare food as amazing as the chefs in that raw-food laboratory. Add to that the modern elegance of the surroundings and the superb service, and we could not have asked for a more excellent and head-turning experience.
Then we juxtaposed our new, modern dinner date with Love on the Plaza in the Plaza District, an area that represents all that can be done with the right dedication and perseverance by talented people. When Laura and I moved to the city from Norman in 1995, we lived on Carey Place in a duplex just below Michael Ivins of the Flaming Lips. Back then, you didn’t walk the two blocks down to 16th street unless you were looking for violence.
But Lyric Theatre led the way with their space, and I was astounded by all that was there, including the grand opening of Warpaint Clothing Company, the new store and clothing line started by Derek Knowlton of the Pretty Black Chains. Then we went to Keith Rinearson‘s beautiful PhotoArt Studios. There were tons of people at the Plaza that night, and it was amazing to see the transformation of this area into a destination for the creative class.
It was a great night to be out on the town and to be in love with each other, and with our city. Right now, we’re just feeling a little smitten with the place.
http://www.newsok.com/article/3440226?custom_click=columnist
Posted by: Matthew
NewsOK
By Mi-Ling Stone Poole
Those of you who have a passion for design will understand exactly where I’m coming from when I say that everywhere I go — from my doctor’s office to a theater or a restaurant — I’m constantly looking for new ideas, beautiful spaces, and creative designs.
I believe that function is the most important element in a room. A well-designed space provides the occupant with style and comfort while meeting the needs of the space.
On a recent outing, I visited chef Matthew Kenney’s restaurant, Matthew Kenney OKC.
This innovative “raw foods” restaurant in the Classen Curve in Oklahoma City needed a special design to bring all of the components of the space together to function properly.
The result is a space perfectly designed to house the restaurant’s seating area, bar and chef’s station in one open plan.
Appearing to be in the space, but separated by a glass wall, is a sustainable living boutique.
There you’ll find the chef’s cookbooks and other products that promote his passion for healthy eating and environmental concerns directed through a style of living and eating.
Just to the right of the restaurant is the cooking area for his Matthew Kenney Academy and cooking classes.
From the outside it almost seems as if you’re peering into the lens of a camera positioned in the dining room. You can almost hear the conversations of the chefs or the intimate tabletop discussions of the guests as the space calls you to join in on the fun.
The choice of bamboo utilized on the 14-foot ceiling and tabletops paired with deep purple warm up the design while keeping the feel clean and modern.
The pristine detail of the open chef’s station provides entertainment and offers a glimpse of the colorful food.
It was hard not to notice the details that went into presenting this restaurant to the public. From the glass straws to the natural stones that held the orders in place, you were urged to be conscious of your environment and the choices you can make.
Now go out and create your own unique comfort zone!
http://newsok.com/eaterys-fresh-design-gives-view-of-innovation/article/3438888
Posted by: Matthew
105degrees is a cool project all around, but one of the things that excites me the most about the project is our shop- or the “glass box”. The shop is not something that you would necessarily know that we have unless you take a visit to the restaurant- if you walk in, you can’t miss it. Rest assured the shop is not an afterthought. It is a very central part of our business.
The shop features our unique brand of retail food items, kale chips, granola, chocolate, ice cream, kombucha, etc. all of the essential raw food faves and of course, all of these things are great and absolutely necessary! However, what is most exciting about the shop is the opportunity it gives us to give back, and reach out to support like- minded business. Over the past year- researching and sourcing different products to sell has been a welcomed, exciting challenge. I have been utterly overwhelmed by all of the cool, conscious products that are out there and I am thrilled to have to chance to feature some of them here on Lifestyle.
As my first feature I would like to introduce Ariane Dutzi.
Ariane Dutzi, designer and founder of dutzi design, inc., is a former fashion editor who lived in Paris and New York, before she moved to the Yucatan. She now divides her time between New York and Valladolid, where she shares her home with two Jack Russell terriers, Luna and Cinza. Fashion was always her passion. In 2008 she started designing bags made out of Vintage burlap and recycled raffia- she wanted to use fashion as a means of contribution to our environment. Her goal was not to create just another “it” bag. She wanted to create something fashionable that could give back, by respecting nature, our resources, and the people who live on this planet. In this same year, she started her own company “dutzi design, inc.” and in 2009 the dutzi workshop followed. The dutzi workshop was created to help women, mainly Mayan, to have the opportunity to make some money on their own. Each bag is individually hand crafted inside and out by one woman. No assembly line involved. Ariane selects the materials and provides each woman with the resources needed to craft the bags. They are allowed to craft the bags on their own time, which gives them the opportunity to continue to fulfill household duties while still doing something for them. They are paid by the project, so that they are all committed on a personal level- no salaries- the attitude must be commitment. On top of giving these women the opportunity to make a little money on their own, she also takes the time to educated them on managing their finances- understanding that giving them money without the tools to handle it is somewhat futile- you must have a “backbone to stand” or so to speak. At this point, the workshop counts 23 women and is constantly growing. She is an idealist who believes in beauty, making the world a better place and that business is about more than just making money. You can see, and feel this through her products.
My conversation with Ariane was truly inspiring. I found her approach to business so unique and refreshing. Her bags are beautiful, sophisticated, and useful- the longer you carry one the more it becomes a unique part of you, your personality and style. To know that you are buying a product that has a life behind it, a soul, and a personality is such a gift in this era of commerce where almost everything you buy is a lifeless, mass produced good. It makes me happy to be a piece of the puzzle in bringing like-minded people, and companies together under one roof.
Visit dutzidesign.com
Posted by: Matthew
This month Matthew and 105degrees are featured in Whole Life Magazine.
View the Article.
