Tim and Erin Archuleta own ICHI Sushi which was named "Hottest Restaurant" of 2014 in the Eater Awards and included in the San Francisco Chronicle Top 100 Restaurants.
Read MoreTAMER RIAD
Tamer Riad is Sous Chef at Boke Bowl in Portland, OR.
What was the food highlight of your year?
I went down to Mexico for a friend’s wedding this past year and was completely blown away by how different the food was from what I expected it to be. It wasn’t the Mexican food I’m used to, but rather a very ancient version of it! It was great, clean, and very vegetarian which I thought was awesome. I was definitely pleasantly surprised and stoked about trying something I didn’t expect.
What was the music highlight of your year?
I’ve been listening to quite a bit of pop/r&b this year. I’m not talking underground indie stuff that no one’s heard of.. but literally the pop hits radio stations - the cheesy shit! It’s really grown on me. I blame my girlfriend for this new found disaster. However as much as everyone rips on it, it seems that everyone knows the words whenever I put it on.
Was there a moment when food and music came together in a memorable way?
My friends Lizzy and Cam are in a band called Radiation City here in Portland. They had a pretty big year and totally blew up. It was cool to know them before and after the band success and I still get excited for them when I hear them out and about. I remember on my birthday dinner last year I went to Roe - great, great, great meal - and while we were having dinner, we heard a lot of Radiohead, Smiths, Sigor Ros, Bon Iver, and then Radiation City came on and I can’t say it could have gotten any better. It was as if someone handed them a mix of favorite tunes.
MAT CLOUSER
Mat Clouser is Chef at Swift’s Attic in Austin, TX.
What was the food highlight of your year?
Abby Yates’, (one of Swift’s sous chefs,) pretzel bagel, or “‘pragel”, off of our brunch menu, is easily the tastiest thing I’ve had all year.
What was the music highlight of your year?
CK Chin, our owner and GM, and I were invited to watch one of the Geto Boys shows from on stage, actually right behind the boys. We pretty much geeked out the whole time - something we’d both wanted to do since middle school. Total nerds.
Was there a moment when food and music came together in a memorable way?
I guess that same night, we cooked for them before the show, as well. I’m constantly surprised what wearing a chef’s coat can get a person.