It's an idea that she explores every year as host of at multicultural arts festival in Adelaide, South Australia, in March.
This culinary portion of the fair invites artists to share a recipe and cook it on stage while chatting with Matto.
The chef, who is also a food educator, says, "WOMAD is all about introducing the world to people. And for me, my entry into another culture is through food."
The process starts at the beginning of each year when artists are asked to send in a recipe. It can be a dish celebrated in their country, a family recipe, something they like to cook for their bandmates while on tour; the choice is theirs.
Rosa Matto (right) learns more about Brooklyn-based Ghanaian artist Jojo Abot and the food she loves at WOMADelaide. Source: Saige Prime
AN ODE TO MULTICULTURALISM
What is modern Australian cuisine?
"Sometimes, we have to substitute ingredients, like that time we had an African artist who wanted a particular flower. In the beginning, it wasn't always possible to get everything, but now, we can pretty much get any ingredients," Matto explains.
During the festival, chefs will prep some food, like chop onions or pickle coriander, but it's mostly up to the artist to cook their recipe in front of a small audience.
Matto says, "While they're cooking, my job is to explore their personal world. I'm a bit nosy so I might ask, 'Who taught you this recipe? What music do you listen to while cooking? These sorts of things. It's a bit like gossip. The audience loves to see the other side of an artist."
While they're cooking, my job is to explore their personal world.
Since joining Taste the World in 2014, Matto has cooked dishes with dozens of artists, from with Beninese superstar Angélique Kidjo to Palestinian barbecue with violin virtuoso Ramzi Aburedwan.
"Angélique Kidjo will always remain one of my favourites. She's a big star, but she wants to do all the prep herself and she's so appreciative of everything we do. At the end, she always wants to helps wash the dishes. She's an extraordinary generous woman, very humble and empathetic," says Matto.
Often, the guest will do an impromptu musical performance.
Angélique Kidjo shares her art and her food. Source: Grant Hancock
"An artist, you can't stop them doing whatever they want to do," says Matto, laughing. And if they don't bring instruments, that's not an issue.
"Their band members who came to support them will use chopsticks on upturned frying pans, somebody else grabbed two wooden spoons and made a drum. It's extraordinarily chaotic."
I sometimes say I create a circus and I'm the ringmaster, but I very often lose control.
When Italian traditional music ensemble Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino took the stage in 2015, they had the whole audience dancing the tarantella.
Things can also get emotional, with some guests sharing painful stories about their lives and the struggles of being an artist in their country.
At the end of each session, samples of the dish are offered to lucky members of the audience. The recipes are published on the WOMADelaide's website at the end of the festival.
Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino took the stage in 2015, they had the whole audience dancing the tarantella. Source: Morgan Sette
This year, Scottish band Rura will teach the audience how they make . Greek-Sudanese singer Marina Satti will dish up a , and Taiwanese dance company B.Dance will make .
You can also see Finnish vocal quartet Tuuletar make , a popular Finish snack, while Belgian group KermesZ à l'Est will prepare a grilled lamb sandwich with .
WOMADelaide is held from 6 to 9 March in Adelaide's Botanic Park. You can .
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