Food, angst, punk rock and a really, really fast metabolism is the concept behind the The Glutster (formerly Teenage Glutster) food, drink and music blog.
Javier was first inspired to write when he he saw his first episode of the cartoon Doug. He continued his progress through middle school, attending Hollenbeck Magnet in Boyle Heights. At the angry and bored age of 16, he started to write about his life occurrences through the medium of tasty food and drinks. Thus, The Glutster was born.
Who would of thought his burning consumer passion with anything and everything relating to food, drink and their history would get him to where he is now? Well, his third person self that is writing this sure as hell didn’t! Born and bred in East Los Angeles, it was when he transferred from inner-city Garfield High School to suburban Alhambra High School where he discovered just how awesome good food can be.
While the rest of his preppy classmates would swarm to the nearest franchise burger shop after school, he walked around aimlessly collecting take-out menu’s from regional ethnic restaurants. He’s taken a few local Community College Culinary Arts and Baking courses. But decided that his passion is eating, drinking and writing, not so much organized cooking for large amounts of people. Just this year, he has assessed his educational fate, finally taking serious classes at Pasadena City College. He wishes to transfer to the University of Southern California and major in Journalism (subject to change!)
All this, while balancing an active passion for international punk-rock music and its lifestyle. He has recently tapped into his Mexican roots and Chicano awareness, working along side veterano reconquistadores such as Gustavo Arellano (Ask A Mexican!) and Lalo Alcaraz (Creator of “La Cucaracha”).
In his free time, he likes to balance his high-calorie passion with electric Épée at Salle Lancier Fencing. He has defended (OK, I lost a lot. haha) Pasadena City College and competed in electric Foil fencing competitions at U.S.C. and U.C. Irvine. Recently he has also found swimming pretty freaking awesome too. He is a proud-ass owner of a jet-black, 87 MPG, 2006 Bajaj Chetak 150cc Scooter with an “I love Tortillas” bumper sticker that he bought instead of a car after he graduated high school.
Although no longer a teenager, his fast metabolism, energy and passion ain’t going nowhere and his alcohol tolerance is only getting higher–dangerously higher. Eat fast, die young!
Some of the stuff he’s somehow accomplished at the age of 22 includes but is not limited to:
-Mentioned in Los Angeles Times several times since the beginning of his career.
1) Celebs, gossip! Sure, we’ll bite(Published January 03, 2007)
“teenageglutster.blogspot.com This is a really fun post by an Alhambra teenager with great pictures and excited accounts of such milestones as his first coq au vin.”
2) Ludo Lefebvre, L.A.’s wildly popular movable feast maker (Published May 20, 2010)
“”This is the real me,” says Ludo, who won the hearts of bloggers everywhere when he showed up at the home of Javier Cabral (the Teenage Glutster) to cook with his mom. “I want to be open.”
3) Circling Wagons (Published May 17, 2010)
“Javier Cabral, who writes a popular food blog called Teenage Glutster, had tried all but one of the food trucks before, but he promised he wouldn’t be swayed by past experiences. “I’m abandoning all biases” said Cabral, 21, “and I came with a starving stomach.”
4) The Find: La Huasteca in Lynwood (Published September 2, 2010)
“Camacho’s move arrived by word of blogger Javier Cabral, who was also instrumental in raising the profile of Moles La Tía. Now at La Huasteca, Camacho has unveiled a refined new menu.”
- Guest judge appearance on Hells Kitchen (Season 2; Aired 2007)
-Freelanced first piece for Lateen Magazine when he was 18.
-Studying under great Zen priest, chef and baker Edward Espe Brown of “The Tassajara Breadbook” and “How To Cook Your Life” documentary.
-Full segment on the L.A episode of Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern when he was 19.
-Props given by Pulitzer-Prize winning Food Critic Jonathan Gold for his review of Moles La Tia (Published January 21, 2009).
-A profile piece on Ciudad Magazine (Published May 2008)
-A mention in The New Yorker. Annals of Gastronomy: The Scavenger (Published: November 9, 2009).
-Staff writer for Youth Radio (NPR West: 2010).
-Freelancer for The Huffington Post (2010).
-Was a judge at the 1st Annual Los Angeles Vendy Awards.
-Work featured in Zocalo Public Square’s “What is the Cruelest Food You’ve Ever Eaten?” series (2010.
-Featured twice on The Madelaine Brand Show (NPR: KPCC)
1) Tamales: the edible Christmas gift (Original Air Date: 12/23/2010)
2) Making it with Barbacoa (Original Air date (2/9/2011)
-Interviewed and featured on the Pocho Hour of Power with Lalo Alcaraz (KPFK: Original Air Date-February 11, 2011).
<b>Working as a regular ‘fixer’ and frequent freelance contributor to Saveur Magazine.</b>
1) Taco Nirvana (Published March 2010).
2) Nighthawks at The Cafe (Published March 2010)
3) Saveur Office Staff Meal: So THAT’S How They Roll…
-Featured on The Cooking Channel’s ‘United Tastes of America with Jeffrey Saad: Taco’s’ episode
-Original member of Vivela Spanish Podcast (2010).
-Staff Food Writer for Alhambra Source (2010-Now).
-OC Weekly Food and Music Intern (Editors: Gustavo Arellano Lilledeshan Bose. 2010-Now)
-First cover feature for Saveur Magazine at the age of 22, “Mexico Feeds Me: Exploring Mexico’s Culinary Heritage” (Published May 2011)
-Appeared on Ludobites America where he helps Chef Ludo buy Mexican ingredients to make Mole Zacatecano (The Sundance Channel).
-Wrote “Anarchy in East L.A.”, his full print feature for LA Weekly. (Sept. 22, 2011)
-Wrote “East Los Angeles: Health-Food Mecca” for Zocalo Public Square.
-Wrote “Ticket to Ride” for LA Weekly, a print story on LAPD and scooter injustice in Los Angeles.
-Freelance Music writer for LA Weekly Music, 2011-Present.
-Freelance Food Writer for LA Weekly Food, 2011-Present.
9 Responses to “Who the hell is The Glutster? (Bio)”
2-14-2011
Javi! Heard the show on KPFK on Thursday! Congrats! I’m in the mood for sushi!
2-15-2011
thanks man, means a lot! And for sure! We’ll hit it up later this week perhaps
2-20-2011
Just caught your Zimmern episode. I look forward to following your culinary adventures on Glutster!
2-20-2011
thanks man, means a lot. Looking forward to having you read me! cheers!
3-2-2011
nothing like Eating Your Way Through Life.
glad to see that garbage disposal in your belly keeps spinning
4-16-2011
Your commentI have just finished reading the article you wrote for SAVEUR magazine. I would greatly love to have that recipe for spicy menudo. I have tried many and found them lacking in authenticity. Your trip sounds like the real deal. Is there any chance of getting that for me? I have also tried some of the recipes in that article and found them to be extremely good. Thank you very much in advance and I look forward to hearing from you very soon. By the way, we are all the way down in Australia!!!!!!!!!!! We just happen to love menudo…..
Kind Regards, Diana Snowdon
4-18-2011
Hey there Diana,
Thank you! My Zacatecas article? My mother’s menudo article should be included! Although, I have not yet seen it myself so do not know what which recipes were left in the cutting room floor.
Anyways, if it is not included. I will surely post my recipe soon!
cheers!
6-8-2011
Love the site man! Great food and Punk rock, hells yes! If I was visiting form out of town, what are you’re top five must visit’s when in LA?
6-9-2011
let me know when you come down man
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