ADAM HINOJOSA

Adam Hinojosa is Chef de Cuisine at Barrel Head Brewhouse in San Francisco. 

What was the food highlight of your year?

My highlight would have to be taking home the Golden Noodle from the 5th annual sMacdown. It's nice to get out of the restaurant and do some backyard type events for great causes. 1st place trophies ain't bad either.

What was the music highlight of your year?

I don't get out much but when I do it's for a Pigeon Jon show. This year wasn't any different. Touring to promote his album, All The Roads, Jon manages to go into small SF venues and completely rock the show. I always insist that he come in where ever I'm at and eat some good food before he gets back on the road. This year he had a very talented musician by the name of Peter Daily touring with him. What a great dude that not only has a new fan in me also a new fan of my burgers.

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

My convergence of food and music comes from San Francisco's oldest foot race. Weird, I know. There I was slinging about 20 million tiny burgers when a marching band made its way int the dinning room and started belting out thunderous versions of 80's rock classics. Only Bay 2 Breakers.

@I_am_chefadam

COLE GERST

Cole Gerst is a designer and illustrator living in Portland, OR. He recently illustrated and authored the book Buckminster Fuller: Poet of Geometry.

What was the food highlight of your year?

Sometimes my fondest memories of food are not simply great meals but revolve around other events of some sort. I've had some spectacular meals this year but I think my favorite food highlight was just an impromptu trip to the Oregon coast where my girlfriend and I hit every dive bar and seafood shack we could, devouring massive amounts of oysters & crab and just drinking beer and getting to know the local people far away from all the touristy places.

What was the music highlight of your year?

Built to Spill at the Crystal Ballroom in Portland. I had seen Rocket from the Crypt earlier in the day at an outdoor festival so I was already in a good mood and full of PBR. I hadn't seen them in maybe 15 years, it was a bit sentimental to me. I think I teared up for a second.

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

A friend of mine surprised me with last minute tickets to Guided By Voices and told me to meet him at the taco place below the venue. When I got there, to my surprise, the taco place had been replaced by my favorite sandwich shop, Bunk Sandwiches. I proceeded to eat my old standby, the Meatball Parmigiano Hero, and bounce around to GBV for almost 3 hours. Now every time I have that sandwich I remember that show.

@optiong

VINCENT CORRIGAN

Vincent Corrigan is a former member of Long Island bands Inside and Blood Red now working as Sous Chef at Kai cafe and restaurant in Galway, Ireland.

What was the food highlight of your year?

Growing heaps of tomatoes in my square foot garden without a greenhouse on the west coast of Ireland - my most successful year since moving here in 2004. Those along with all the pollock and mackerel for the bay made for such a great bbq.

What was the music highlight of your year?

Finding out Mineral was reunited and playing just a stones throw away in the UK.

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

Touring Italy. We were fed like kings at each venue, from squat to club. It was all brilliant and so different from any Italian food I had ever experienced.

@vincentcorrigan

COURTNEY BUIE

Courtney Buie runs Slip Productions and works at McGarrah Jessee for Shiner Beers. 

What was the food highlight of your year?

The vegan fish tacos making a permanent home on the Chicago Diner menu. I ate them 3 days in a row when I was in town.

What was the music highlight of your year?

Seeing Lucius live for the first time. Wow.

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

Eating at Frank in Austin and hearing Geoff Peveto's playlist selection - which is why we became friends, no kidding. Who else plays Inch and Tugboat Annie at a restaurant?

@slipaustin

JEFF MELTZ

Jeff is a photographer, blogger, and founder of The Culture of Me.

What was the food highlight of your year?

Every year for the last five or so years my friends Ruth, Damon and I collectively celebrate our birthdays with our friends in a different way, and this year Ruth put together this insane private dinner in Brooklyn at one of her favorite (but closed) pho spots called Nha Toi. She'd become friends with the chef from the restaurant (who's working on new spots at the moment) and coaxed him into creating a big custom meal for about 15 people in the old Nha Toi restaurant, and it was one of most incredible meals of the year--if not ever.

What was the music highlight of your year?

I didn't do a lot of music festival/show travelling this year, so here in Gotham City I made it a point to shoot a portrait project at two of my favorite annual events: Full Moon Festival and the annual CMJ Music Marathon. I got to hang out and meet amazing artists and bands, shoot some really fun instant photos on Impossible film (with an old Polaroid camera), ate some good food and listened to some pretty great and varied music.

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

I got to shoot some behind the scenes portraits and photos at New York Fashion Week (in February and in September) and while it's not stereotypical "music" or "food," my favorite thing about being backstage at fashion events is that they literally have some of the best catering and food ever. Throw away your concept that "models don't eat during fashion week" because it's just not true. Although I probably ate way more than they did when they weren't looking.

@thecultureofme