We created Stock and Bone as a means to aid in our exploration of the world around us, to quench our endless curiosity about the people who inspire us, and to celebrate our love of beautiful things. It’s a romance with the world that drives us, but it’s also a discerning eye that separates the wheat from the chaff. This project is a vehicle for us to share with you the people, food, places, and things that inspire and capture our imagination. We trust that you will come along for the ride, but we also fervently hope that you will be inspired to go off on your own and discover your own little worlds, and then report back.
Who We Are
We are two artisans with different backgrounds, from wildly different worlds, who met in a place neither was from and found a place we both call home. Lucas Manteca is a chef, entrepreneur, surfer, and explorer. David Todd McCarty is a writer, photographer, and designer. We share a passion for food, travel, and beautiful things, combined with an endless curiosity and a passion for discovery.
Lucas has spent his career sharing his food with people, making things, and creating little worlds to get lost in. David, on the other hand, has spent his time telling stories through the use of words, pictures, and video. Together they bring a unique vision to the world around them, complementing each other as they seek out inspiration in sometimes unlikely places.
The Soul of Stock and Bone
The soul of Stock and Bone is about encouraging exploration. Discovering the hidden gems in life. Supporting people who make things. Focusing on craftsmanship as opposed to mass production. Getting outside of our comfort zones and exploring the world around us. Seeking out the new and different. Celebrating excellence. Stock and Bone is merely the inspiration, with the idea that each one of us will do this for ourselves, on a daily basis.
Breaking Bread
We endeavor to explore the impact of food on community and culture, family and friends, innovation and fusion, rebellion and tradition. Breaking bread together is a sacred act and food should never be confined to mere sustenance. It should be an exploration of possibilities for humanity. It is an art form. It is an emotional byproduct of being alive on this rock. Elevating food to soulful art is why we wake up in the morning.
Exploring Worlds
We view travel as something that can be as far flung as one can get, but that should always be accessible. We aim to explore the street. Home cooks. Street food. Local spots. Small restaurants. Small batch purveyors. It need not be exotic to excite us, from the crab shack to the food truck, but we will not shy away from a white table cloth either. We are snobs to be sure, but only against inauthenticity.
It’s not just food, even though that is often our entry point. It’s also culture and architecture, art and theater, community and friendship. It’s about discovering the essence of a place and telling one small story so that you understand what the place tastes like.
Elevating food to soulful art is why we wake up in the morning.
Makers Making
We are constantly looking for the human story in everything we do. To connect to what people do through who they are. It’s not about the cheese, it’s how they approach cheese. If we are the curators of this world, these are the people who inspire us. How do they think? Where do they work? Who are they and how does that affect how they move through the world? What makes them laugh? What excites them?
Beautiful Things
There is a lot that we do not need to sustain life. But there are a great many things that are helpful in imparting joy into our lives. The aesthetic of beautiful things is why we work hard all day. There are people who appreciate the shape and feel of things and it might have nothing to do with being practical. In fact, practicality is almost beside the point. These are small, affordable pieces of art. We are those people.
Collecting Stories
Stock and Bone is an effort to sift through the flotsam and jetsam of our lives and bring you the best of the best. The stories that stuck with us. The flavors that captured our imaginations. The people, places and things that made us feel alive.
We will present pictures, words and videos that tell stories. We will tell you how and where you can find these experiences. Sometimes we will offer you the opportunity to buy them for yourselves. Ultimately, we see our jobs are guides and curators, of a life well-lived.
Come along. It won’t be dull.
