Mark Trombino owns Donut Friend in LA and plays drums in the recently reunited Drive Like Jehu.
Read MoreSCOTT WINEGARD
Scott Winegard is a chef at Matthew Kenney Cuisine and played bass in Texas Is The Reason.
Read MoreROBBY CRONHOLM
Robby Cronholm sings and plays guitar in Taxes and plays bass in Bonnie & the Bang Bang.
What was the food highlight of your year?
My favorite meal of any year is always at Le Pigeon in Portland. I can't say enough glowing things about Chef Rucker and his team. I'm heading back in December and as I type this I am salivating on my laptop. Other notables included Aveline (SF), ink. (LA) and Workshop Kitchen and Bar (Palm Springs). Oh, and Gordo's Taqueria (SF).
What was the music highlight of your year?
That's an easy answer this year. One of my favorite bands, Drive Like Jehu. They reunited after nearly twenty years and were accompanied by an organist at The Spreckles Organ Pavilion. It was, and I don't say this lightly, the happiest day of my life. Seriously. Ask my girlfriend. She will attest.
Was there a moment when food and music came together in a memorable way?
The show above was one of the greatest concerts of my life and it was accompanied by culinary exploits to match. We started the weekend by taking the train to San Diego, which I had never done. Beautiful coastline and a couple of beers. We checked in to our hotel and ducked around the corner for a bottle of champagne and a sushi lunch (we were celebrating young love and the return of Jehu, don't judge.) After that we grabbed a couple of 40 ouncers and headed to the park where we imbibed behind a dumpster (we were celebrating young love and the return of Jehu, don't judge.) After the show we had a lovely dinner at Chef Blais' Juniper & Ivy. The next morning we had a perfect brunch at Café Chloe where we read the paper and allegedly had mimosas (no excuses). Thanks for listening and may your 2015 be filled with music, food and love.
GREG JACOBS
Greg Jacobs has managed Rocket From The Crypt, Drive Like Jehu, Big Drill Car, and Supernova; worked at SST, Cruz, and Cargo Records; and photographed musicians for print, TV, and the Death or Glory web series.
What was the food highlight of your year?
2014 is the first time that I realized why people love Prime Rib. Our friends were recently married and they served prime rib at the reception. It was catered by Johnny Rivera (of San Diego restaurants: Hash House Au Go Go, Tractor Room, Great Maple) and the food was stunning. The prime rib was cut thick and ate like a steak ... It wasn't thin and fatty and serviced on a plate of liquid ... It was awesome. Plus the roasted asparagus, mac and cheese and sausage skewers with pollenta cubes were great too. Not to mention the Old Fashioneds.
What was the music highlight of your year?
Bob Mould at the Roxy in Hollywood had to be the highlight of 2014 for me. I had seen Husker Du a few times back in the old days, but never saw Sugar or Bob Mould solo until this show. I was shocked at how many Husker Du songs were in the set ... Plus Sugar songs and his new stuff too. It was a great, well thought out set list that concluded with "Love is All Around" (Mary Tyler Moore theme song). Amazing.
Was there a moment when food and music came together in a memorable way?
Joe Jost's is a place where food and music come together for me regularly. Joe Jost's is the longest serving beer bar in Long Beach, CA - Open since prohibition was repealed, they are famous for their pickled eggs, hog dog sandwiches (called "specials"), roasted peanuts and of course, their schooners of beer. Whenever friends come up from San Diego to play at Alex's Bar (Hot Snakes, Night Marchers, Heartaches and more), we always meet at Joe Jost's before the show. There's nothing better than sitting with great friends over some pickled eggs and a schooner of Busch and catching up.
GREG JACOBS
Greg Jacobs has managed Rocket From The Crypt, Drive Like Jehu, Big Drill Car, and Supernova; worked at SST, Cruz, and Cargo Records; and photographed musicians for print, the Death or Glory web series, and an upcoming TV show. Photo by: Rinzi Ruiz
What was the food highlight of your year?
I was on my annual baseball spring training trip with some friends in Scottsdale, AZ. We had just left a day game, we were hot, drunk, and hungry. I saw Grimaldi’s and dragged our crew of 8 there hoping to find it as good as I remembered it in NYC, knowing full well that I would be subjected to serious hazing for the rest of the trip if my suggestion failed. We ordered salads, wood-fired pizzas, beer, wine - all fantastic, all friends satisfied, and I plan to return in 2014 spring training trip.
What was the music highlight of your year?
This is tough. This year I was lucky enough to attend and photograph 2 secret shows by bands that were way too big to play the venues I saw them in: First was Rocket From The Crypt on Easter night at Bar Pink in San Diego (150 people I’d guess), next was Foo Fighters at a pizza parlor in Moorpark, CA (guessing there were around 100 people there). But I honestly think my musical highlight of 2013 was at a festival, and I hate festivals. It was a weather-shortened, 15 minute set by FLAG! I saw them at Riot Fest in Denver. They were absolutely insane! Powerful, energetic, tight, and ferocious! The wind started blowing so hard during their set that it tore the giant banners off of the PA stacks. Then the rain started. It was raining huge Colorado rain drops (I swear the rain drops are smaller in Southern California). FLAG was about 15 minutes into their set when a voice came over the loudspeaker advising everyone that the National Weather Service have issued a storm warning and to “shelter in your car until further notice.” The festival continued after a weather delay, but FLAG was done for the day. They played for 15 minutes and it was the best show I’ve seen all year. I can’t wait to see them again (maybe Ron Reyes will join them on stage now that he’s been booted from Black Flag That would be awesome).
Was there a moment when food and music came together in a memorable way?
When I first read this question, I went totally blank and had no idea what I would say. Now I have a few ideas. The first is not 2013-specific, but it’s MY LIFE. Before I was married, I used to think that the perfect girl for me would be a “Casbah/Keva” girl, meaning, I wanted to find a girl who would go to a dirty rock show at The Casbah with me on a Saturday night and then feel equally comfortable at brunch with my parents on Sunday (Keva Grill was a place in La Jolla for brunch). I found her!
The 2013 collision was after the Rocket From The Crypt, show with my wife and our friends Josh and Mona, standing outside of Bar Pink after the show we made a plan and left for Roberto’s #10 on El Cajon Blvd. We ordered at the window, sat outside on the circular cement table, ate burritos, rolled tacos, nachos, drank Cokes from the can, and just talked. It was just like the old days and it felt great.
MARK TROMBINO
Mark Trombino is a producer (Blink 182) and drummer (Drive Like Jehu) who recently opened a custom donut shop in Los Angeles.
What was the food highlight of your year?
Well, I’d have to say opening up Donut Friend was the highlight of my year without a doubt. It has been so overwhelming and crazy, but I’m loving it. And hating it. But mostly loving it.
What was the music highlight of your year?
That’s easy: taking my niece to see Fun. at the Greek. It was her first concert, with her favorite band, and I was stoked to be able to share that with her. And also relieved she isn’t a Belieber.
Was there a moment when food and music came together in a memorable way?
A few months ago I got to meet Bruce Moreland from one of my all time favorite bands, Wall of Voodoo, and give him a Walnut Voodoo donut. That was pretty cool!
SOHRAB HABIBION
Sohrab Habibion plays guitar in Obits.
What was the food highlight of your year?
Dinner with my wife at Zahav in Philadelphia. It might be weird to freak out over a plate of hummus and a glass of red wine, but this place is so much more than that. When it comes to using cumin, garlic, lemon and parsley, chef Michael Solomonov knows how to make it seem like a dark art. And though I didn’t previously know that Lebanon is one of the oldest wine-producing regions in the world, one sip of a Cinsaut blend from the Bekaa Valley will make anyone a convert.
What was the music highlight of your year?
That’s always tough to gauge because there are different kinds of highlights, so…
1. Our show at the Lawnya Vawnya festival in St. John’s was probably the craziest set we’ve ever played. It was chaotic in a way that ended up working, but could’ve easily gone completely off the rails. We also stayed with an amazingly generous couple, Rick & Susan, who cooked us a delicious meal.
2. Going to Kiev was definitely a peak of this year. The show itself had the vibe of a house party, which is alway fun, but our host, Sasha, and the walking tour of the city he and his girlfriend, Nastya, gave us was really special.
3. There are lots of music festivals all over the world these days, but the best one I’ve been to is the one we played in June that was put together by Silver Rocket. It’s held in a 14th century castle with a breathtaking view of the Czech countryside, just an hour southwest of Prague. There are no sponsors and all the food and drinks are made and/or served by local folks. Everyone cleans up after themselves and there’s a genuine sense of community. It’s inspiring.
Was there a moment when food and music came together in a memorable way?
Every time we play in San Diego we make an effort to go to Las Cuatro Milpas before leaving town. It’s a bare bones operation near Chicano Park that’s been churning out incredible Mexican food since 1933. The tortillas and hot sauce are more than worth the wait.
TOMMY HABETZ
Tommy Habetz is co-owner of Portland’s Bunk (multiple restaurants, one bar/music venue, and a truck) and Trigger. His take on the cuban sandwich is the subject of many a television show, magazine article, and road trip.
What was the food highlight of your year?
Wow! Is it the end of the year? What a weird, anxiety ridden, fun, delicious year it’s been. We started a mobile Bunk Truck, opened up Trigger (our new Tex Mex place) and I became a father (again) to the most beautiful baby girl, Vivienne.
The food highlight for me was probably going to NYC for the Oregon Bounty Food Assault, a precursor to our Portland Feast inaugural event. I got to see first hand that people really do dig what we’re doing in Oregon. I also got to eat at Roberta’s in Bushwick, which was pretty mind blowing. I also got to meet Danny Bowien and watch a bunch of famous chefs and food media folks devour a sheet tray full of Doritos and Fritos chili pie, made at the hands of Danny.
What was the music highlight of your year?
My favorite musical moment has got to be The guys from Built to Spill surprising us with a free show at Bunk Bar. It was crazy, packed to the gills and filled with friends that I have never seen smile so much. What a great band.
Was there a moment when food and music came together in a memorable way?
Sitting at a table at Bunk Bar, talking with John Reis from Hot Snakes, Drive Like Jehu, Rocket From The Crypt, etc. about Tex-Mex food. He couldn’t understand why we were opening up a Tex-Mex place, because he thought Tex-Mex sucked. But, of course, he’s from San Diego. I knew what he was talking about, though. He and his band mates had had many many bad experiences eating at bad Tex-Mex places. And, oddly, that’s what’s been inspiring me lately. It’s been fun to tackle the opposite of haute cuisines, get in there and find the sweet spots. To me, it’s endlessly more fascinating than seeing a grape deconstructed, then reconstructed as a grape.
All in all, a beautiful and inspiring year. I look forward to eating Jimmy Albee’s Queso Deluxe in the post-Apocolyptic, hopey changey, zombie wasteland of 2013!
MARK TROMBINO
Mark Trombino is a drummer (Drive Like Jehu) and producer (Blink 182, Jimmy Eat World). He recently signed a lease in LA for the first location of his Donut Friend concept.
What was the food highlight of your year?
I guess the food highlight of my year was discovering Guisados. It has become one of my favorite places in Los Angeles, the place I turn to whenever I’m running around and want something quick, cheap, and delicious. I love that they’ve taken something that everyone in LA is super familiar with, something you can find multiple times on just about every street here, unique and special. That’s an inspiration to me. I hope to achieve the same sort of thing with Donut Friend!
What was the music highlight of your year?
The musical highlight of my year was probably seeing both The Refused and The Faint at this year’s FYF. Both bands have been super important to me and kind of represent the two sides of my musical taste. To be able to see them both at the same festival was amazing. And I hate festivals!