Mel Ottenberg Is Always Down to Cheat

"Mel Ottenberg, stylist and editor-in-chief of Interview magazine, takes eating and merriment seriously. How could he not? Enjoying food with loved ones was a value instilled early on - his father was a fourth-generation owner at Ottenberg's Bakery, their family business in Washington D.C., but now he's trying (and occasionally failing) to keep a balanced diet while navigating his busy schedule."

"He's never giving up on wanting to try new restaurants in the city, but for now, he's at Citarella a lot. "Jewish carbs are in my blood," Ottenberg says. "But I'm always fighting it because I don't want to be a soft, middle-aged Jewish man either." It's a small rebuke, at least in his rule book. "The way I see it is that I like to eat really well unless I don't feel like it," he adds. "I'm always down to cheat.""

Mel Ottenberg grew up in a baking family and retains a strong appreciation for food and communal meals. He navigates a demanding fashion and editorial career while trying to keep a balanced diet and occasionally giving in to indulgence. He previously served as Rihanna's longtime stylist, has worked with Chloë Sevigny and Troye Sivan, and began at Interview as creative director before becoming editor-in-chief, often styling cover shoots. He frequents Citarella, favors a Cuisinart drip coffee maker inherited from his parents, and refined his coffee measurements with help from his partner. He expresses cultural attachment to Jewish carbohydrate-rich foods while resisting unhealthy habits.

Read at Grub Street