The P.O.P Issue 005 - Andreina Matos

The P.O.P. (Portraits of POPLIFE) documents inspiring individuals who push artistic boundaries and strive for excellence in order to advance the communities around them. Uniting a wide range of talented creatives from diverse backgrounds, this editorial series invites them to share their passions and the impact they've had on the realms of hospitality, music, fashion, art, and design.

For our 5th issue,?we took a trip to one of our favorite restaurants,?La Natural,?to sit down with owner Andreina Matos.

Read below to learn about the ethos of her business and the inspiration behind it.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Andreina Matos: Hola! My name is Andreina and I’m a Venezuelan immigrant in my 40’s, currently exploring creative passions in all aspects of my life.

How did you get into the restaurant business??

AM: By osmosis! One of the gifts the relationship with my ex-husband brought to me was his love for food and the restaurant industry. It permeated my life so much that it inspired me to dive into creating spaces to host for myself.

What is the concept behind La Natural??

AM: It is not a concept, that’s the beauty. For more than 2 years we were hosting at home, and while he was having fun with his sourdough pizza recipe I was in my element setting the tone to warmly receive friends and family in our space. Soon enough we knew our next restaurant needed to be an extension of our own selves.

What is the inspiration behind the architecture/interior design of the restaurant??

AM: My home in Buena Vista is the inspiration behind all of the interior and exterior elements at La Natural, from the walls, color palette, chairs, and wine glasses, to my nephews drawings and ceramics of my own.

What do you want your guests to walk away with from their experience at La Natural??

AM: Feeling lighter in every way possible, while hopefully embracing the honesty and imperfection of the place. Our sourdough, pizza shape, and flavor are a reflection of this, as well as the low intervention wines not trying to become something they are not!

What inspired you to open La Natural?

Conceiving a business around the freedom of being myself.

What is your passion outside of your career/current role???

AM: To explore and enjoy life through everything that can raise my vibration; be it food, nature, books, music, objects, people, spaces, etc.

Any new exciting projects in the works that you would like to share??

AM: Not right now. La Natural is still a baby and I like to savor things… I am going slow.

What would you tell your younger self?

AM:What my mom used to remind me of very often... RELAX!