WARREN OAKES

Warren Oakes co-owns Boca Fiesta restaurant, plays drums in Sunshine State, and is a former member of Against Me!

What was the food highlight of your year?

My food highlight was a pilgrimage to the very recently closed Hot Doug's in Chicago. (RIP)

I have eaten at Doug's easily a dozen times over the past 8 years and consider it to be, perhaps the most perfectly executed concept I've ever experienced. The menu was focused and expansive simultaneously, with the format unwaveringly tube-shaped meat, but the variations were epic. I had venison, wild boar, kangaroo, foie gras, buffalo, elk, and reindeer dogs at various times, paired with duck fat fries on the weekends. As far as I know, Doug Himself took every single order every single day. Believe the legend! Hot Doug's was the real deal and will be missed. 

What was the music highlight of your year?

Directly after waiting in line at Hot Doug's for about 5 hours in order to get our final fix, my fearless co-pilot and I rented a car and drove to the twin cities to eat a Jucy Lucy (burger with a molten cheese core) at Matts bar in Minneapolis and then crossed over to St. Paul to see the Replacements! Old buds Hold Steady and Lucero opened the show and every band KILLED IT. Perfect combo trip of food and music. Shout out to MKR for being my partner in crime!

Was there a moment when food and music came together in a memorable way?

Eating Cuban sandwiches in Miami after a really fun Sunshine State show at Gramps deserves a nod. Yum!

@bocafiesta

GEOFF PEVETO

Geoff Peveto owns Frank, a restaurant serving hot dogs and gourmet sausages with craft beer and cocktails in Austin, TX, and The Decoder Ring, a full service design firm with a focus working in the music industry.

What was the food highlight of your year?

Osteria alle Testiere in Venice, Italy was one. It has ten tables and the food is amazing. They are part of Ristoranti della Buona Accoglienza which sat out to counter the reputation of expensive tourist traps with lousy food that Venice was often associated with. We had ricotta and basil ravioli with red tuna ragout, grilled cuttlefish with squid ink and white polenta and gazpacho with baby octopus. Everything was as fresh as any dish I've ever had.

My other highlight was being able to go congratulate Doug Sohn of Hot Doug's in Chicago the week before he closed his doors.

What was the music highlight of your year?

So many... The Hold Steady played our 5th anniversary at Frank. We only hold around 200 people and we gave away all the tickets to fans. Seeing them in that small of a room was simply amazing. Off! and Diarrhea Planet also played at Frank and destroyed the crowd.

Others would be the Slowdive reunion in Barcelona, Sturgill Simpson in a small club in San Antonio, finally seeing Pinebender and they played for me, my wife and my friend Jay Ryan in their practice space that Jay had arranged, and getting to see Whores three times in one year. They put out two of the best EPs anyone has and deliver them live better than any new band going. That Knapsack reunion was something special too.

Was there a moment when food and music came together in a memorable way?

The above mentioned Hold Steady show at Frank. Having my friends play in our little hot dog shop and seeing the smiles on everyone's face was a show I won't ever forget.

@hotdogscoldbeer