JOAN GUÀRDIA

Joan Guàrdia operates La Castanya, a record label and booking agency (Ted Leo, Obits, Rebecca Gates, Daniel Higgs) in Barcelona.

What was the food highlight of your year?

I travelled quite a bit during the past year discovering some new places and trying new dishes. Mexico and Texas were amazing highlights since I was visiting for the first time. Besides this, touring Spain again was one of the best culinary experiences of the year: amazing seafood in Galicia, great “pinchos” in Euskadi, or delicious black rice in Tarragona… the variations on traditional recipes are never ending, so you have to keep touring!

What was the music highlight of your year?

Music wise 2013 has been an intense year and it is hard to choose. Here are a few highlights: Rocket from the Crypt playing the 5th anniversary of our label and booking agency in Barcelona and cooking ”boquerones” for them in exchange for the amazing show they delivered. A great celebration. Shudder to Think playing at The Black Cat’s 20th anniversary in Washington DC. I thought maybe we could cook for those guys one of these days. Charles Bradley playing at the Daptone Soul Revue in Brooklyn on what felt like the last day of summer. No “boquerones” in NYC, so… It was also great to see Mrs Magician, Parquet Courts, and Ex Hex for the first time. And I saw Nueva Vulcano, Obits, and Ted Leo and the Pharmacists as many times as I could. It reminded me of the important things in this world, as always.

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

It came together many times, especially when we cooked for our friends in bands or when those friends cooked for us when we visited each other. Of course, meeting at our favorite restaurants also counts. “La Cova Fumada" in Barcelona was one of the places that hosted many music meetings with spanish and foreign friends during 2013. Places like that are always memorable!

lacastanya

TERRY GROVES

Terry Groves is co-producer of Pickathon and executive producer of the Huichica Festival.

What was the food highlight of your year?

Man, I really begin to sound so basic once thinking of how to describe memorable food moments for me. Typically, and where we are from (Northern Michigan)… the most exciting food event is the weekly Friday Night Fish Fry, wherein I usually just get the broasted chicken. Beyond that I am always blown away by our annual visit to Portland where I generally live off of Pine State Biscuits for breakfast, pork tacos for lunch, and typically pizza, thai, or sushi for dinner. Call me a creature of habit if you’d like. This routine traditionally ramps up the week of Pickathon when i get to branch out a little. I prefer food i can carry and eat without a dish, so once again, Pine State Biscuits (I’m a Reggie guy), Al Forno Ferruzza (Pizza), and this year our own food booth had amazing Corn Dogs and the famous life-sustaining Pickathon Power Cookies (thanks Jan & Gerard!). 

So what’s my highlight? Well, it came as a surprise from the kind folks at Boke Bowl: fried chicken and ramen - goddamn was that amazing.  As the story goes, It was the first day of Pickathon and I was at the front gate, getting pounded by guest list requests. Usually this is the most brutal 24 hours of my year as everyone (I really mean everyone) typically wants more guests than you’re willing to give them.  Food vendors are somehow always the worst. After about the 30th employee from Boke Bowl that came to the gate without passes, they finally brought me one of their amazing ramen bowls and a side of pickles. It changed my day (and attitude) and I’ll likely remember that moment for a long time.  

What was the music highlight of your year?

Shit, am I self-absorbed if I say that it happened at Pickathon?  So many great shows that weekend, it’s hard to come out with just one. So here are three: Feist singing from atop a piano at The Woods Stage (like a kitty), Parquet Courts out of their minds in The Galaxy Barn, and finally the ever-amazing Saturday Morning Cartoons kids show with the Cardboard Songsters. Their collaboration with Michael Hurley for “Oh My Stars” and the “Slurf Song” were both hilarious and heart-warming.

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

Yes. Day three of Pickathon: Watching Fred Armisen watch Parquet Courts while thoroughly enjoying one of our gluten-free corn dogs.  

@mrtgroves