JORDAN LUFF

Jordan Luff plays bass in the band Old Flings

What was the food highlight of your year?

I have to include two highlights: the first is my hometown Asheville, NC’s only vegan restaurant, Plant. It’s a little out of my price range for an everyday dinner, so I keep it in my back pocket for special occasions. The hazelnut crusted seitan is quite possibly the most decadent food I’ve put in my mouth since becoming vegan. Served with whipped cauliflower, grilled broccolina and romesco, pickled onions, and shiitake bacon. Absolutely breath-taking dinner.

Second, Farmburger, another Asheville favorite. They serve a vegan burger made up of sea island red pea, Smiling Hara smoked tempeh (local brand), and black eyed peas, topped with clover sprouts, red cabbage, and a basil tofu spread on the bun. It’s like it melts in my damn mouth.

What was the music highlight of your year?

My band Old Flings got to play a lot of regional and national festivals this year, including Fest 12 in Gainesville, FL. I got to see some of my all-time favorite bands play, including Torche, Iron Chic, Knapsack, Hop Along, and Restorations. But the best band I saw this year was probably Superchunk in Asheville at the Grey Eagle Music Hall on August 23rd. Watching them was about as close to a religious experience as seeing Coalesce back in 2009 at FEST 8. It’s been a great year for music!

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

Any time Old Flings gets to hit the road, be it for a weekend, a tour, or a festival trip, I try to incorporate food into my adventure. While down at Fest, we had the opportunity to dine at Harvest Thyme, a vegan-friendly sandwich and smoothie joint, and Reggae Shack, one of the best Jamaican-style restaurants I’ve ever had. And I can’t forget Richmond, VA. We only played there once in 2013 (which sucks), but we hit up Ipanema Cafe, Panda Veg, Strange Matter, and Harrison Street Coffee Shop. Richmond has great, great food.

@oldflings

SERGIE LOOBKOFF

Sergie Loobkoff plays guitar in Samiam, Knapsack, and Felled Trees.

What was the food highlight of your year?

I love a restaurant in Silverlake called Cliff’s Edge. From the outside it looks like a muffler shop next to a 99¢ store…but when you walk through the gate, you discover this Tolkien-like outdoor multi-tiered garden with tables build around a giant Oak tree (maybe it’s more like the tree from Pan’s Labrynth without the gross toad). There is a full bar to get sloshed from and at the end the chocolate lava cake is retarded-good. In the middle part of the evening, meat and fish is awesome and the salads are of the yummy variety. Each February, the discussion comes up to where to go for Valentine,s Day… can’t go there every year (according to my girlfriend) but 2013 was a Cliff’s Edge…which made it a good year.

What was the music highlight of your year?

I went out to Florida again for The Fest. It was my third time. Samiam played a couple of shows, Knapsack played, and I have little quartet with George from Hot Water Music and my bubs Mike and John called Grievers. Playing was fine and dandy, but I also got to see Iron Chic, who were awesome….and Off With Their Heads who were also awesome, and a new favorite, Old Flings. I made a new buddy from Michigan called Kevin, which is fun. I hate seeing bands usually, it’s so 1988 for me….but this was a good time.

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

Speaking of Knapsack, we went out to Chicago a few weeks ago to play a show. This famous chef guy likes the ’90s emotional rock music thing, of which Knapsack was a part of, so he invited us to his restaurant for a feast. Graham Elliott is his name and he treated us really, really well…like we were ‘somebodies’ even though everyone knows we are ‘nobodies’. Drunk? Yes. Full? Yes. Tummyache? Surprisingly, no…go figure.

@deadcosmo