CAROLYNN SPENCE

Carolynn Spence is the chef at Hollywood’s iconic Chateau Marmont. 

What was the food highlight of your year?

My food highlight of 2013 was in London at La Petite Maison. A brulee’d brioche pain perdu with spice ice cream. It’s not everyday I have something to eat I’d categorize as perfection. This was it. 

What was the music highlight of your year?

Music highlight for 2013 includes hitting the Redwood Bar downtown LA for a Cramps themed Lux Lives show. Lynda Kay got on stage with her band to do a set. At first I was unsure of what was going on. What surreal kind of performance is this? Then I realized the pure genius of this woman and haven’t missed a show of hers yet!

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

Brooks Headley, the pastry chef of Del Posto, drummed for Born Against which I used to see when I was younger hanging out in NYC.  With time I kept hearing about his fun take on desserts. Brooks and his sous chef Kim came to Bar Marmont to do a collaborative menu with my crew. For that dinner we were able to change the music, the food, and the whole vibe of the restaurant. That was certainly a highlight where food and music connected.

@terroir73

ROBBY CRONHOLM

Robby Cronholm fronts the band Taxes. They have a new full length and remixes by Danny Seim of Menomena coming in 2014.

What was the food highlight of your year?

Tours and recording sessions have been kind enough to take me north to Portland three times this year. When they do, I never miss an opportunity to eat at Gabriel Rucker’s Le Pigeon. His food strikes such a deep chord (one pun intended) in me. His technique is stellar, his approach unconventional, but his food is always inviting and never pretentious. As we’re all here due to a love of food, let’s get down to the intro, verse, chorus, middle 8, chorus of just one of the nights I spent cozied up to the kitchen at Le Pigeon.  (I save my menus. Nerd Alert!)

Razor Clams - casino flavors, bacon glaçage

Foie Gras “Ants on a Log” - olive oil white chocolate ice cream, porcini peanut butter

Beef Cheek Bourguignon

Agnolotti “Cacio E Pepe” - grilled lemon butter, zucchini, peas

Foie Gras Profiteroles

What was the music highlight of your year?

Taylor Swift in Sacramento, The National at Outside Lands, and Pusha T at Mezzanine come to mind. Also, being able to work with Danny Seim from Menomena was the beginning of a beautiful friendship and his input on the record was invaluable. 

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

Our insanely talented producer, Ryan Williams, and I had just finished mixing a song for our new record. We hopped in separate cars and headed from the studio in Echo Park to Hollywood to celebrate at Ink. On the drive over I reflected on the songwriting process and was overwhelmed with emotion. The melody in the shower, the right chords, the lyrics from a dream, the hours in the practice space, the collaborative brilliance of my bandmates, the arrangement finally agreed on, the iPhone recordings, the logistics of recording, the hours in the studio, the basics, the overdubs, the first mix, the second, the final, the car as it careens down Sunset Boulevard with its windows down and its system up. By the time I arrived at the restaurant I was weeping. And then, an unforgettable meal prepared by a young, immensely talented chef with a stranglehold on skill and a devil-may-care attitude, Michael Voltaggio. The setlist that night was as follows:

Oysters - half dozen, mignonette ice

Charred Avocado - dungeness crab, almond sponge, smoked oil

Hamachi - artichoke, smoked buttermilk, oaxacan cheese, yuzu

Potato Charcoal - housemade sour cream, black vinegar

Lollipop Kale - lardo, pig ears, togarashi

Lamb Neck - fried egg, yogurt curd, potato, wild herbs

Beef Cheeks - turnips, onion, caramel, beef threads

@taxesband

STEPHEN CALEN

Stephen Calen is a musician and chef at Pott Wine.

What was the food highlight of your year?

My food highlight of the year was courtesy of The Flower Vato, Larry Rodriguez. Lalo’s Restaurant in Sacramento. The most stunningly awesome mexican food I have EVER had. One of a kind, the most incredible salsas I have ever put in my mouth. This is no small feat. I have taken at least 20 trips to Mexico, Yucatan to Tijuana, and grew up in California. I am all about this food and Lalo’s makes me feel like a pretender. I’m a devout atheist and I pray ten times a day that the recipes are committed to a book before the grandma passes.

What was the music highlight of your year?

My musical highlight this year is a bit harder to conjure because for most of it, I worked as a line cook (happily, I have stepped away from that!) which isn’y very compatible with live music. I had a dinner with Greg Winter during the year. He drums for Spot 1019 and also makes wine. This band had a pretty special appeal to me and Greg gifted me a CD, most of which I had not heard, In Her Satanic Majesty’s Secret Service Entrance. It was played loudly and frequently and made me feel giddily young every time!

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

Food and Music came together for me best at Nellie Dorn’s May Party in July. Lot’s of folks got together at the Dorn Cabin at Dorn Bay on Clear Lake and ate, drank, and made music. Scott Powers (El Camino Cha Cha Orquestra, Los Super Elegantes, Link Wray, The Residents) invited a bunch of friends to play and many of the invitees were Bay Area musicians. I hauled up my Smoker and did up about 12 Racks of Ribs. ‘Nuff said!

MERCY HARPER & LINDSAY MINTON

Mercy and Lindsay are in the band Football, Etc.

What was the food highlight of your year?

We went to an Ethiopian restaurant for the first time in our lives this year. Injera—a staple in Ethiopian cooking—was totally unlike any food I’ve had before. It’s a yeasty spongy flatbread that looks a bit like elephant skin. The spongy quality makes it great for sopping up things, and it’s quite filling. Gave me a whole new idea of what a bread could be.

What was the music highlight of your year?

Just a few weeks before we were about to head out on a UK tour last summer, we learned that Braid was set to play on the same day as our London gig. At first we were so bummed, convinced we’d lose our draw (after all, we wanted to see Braid too!). But instead, our London date for that tour turned out to be one of the best days I’ve had. The fellas from Zine and Not Heard booked us a matinee show across the street from where Braid was playing. We played a totally packed show, with people singing along and a bit of crowd surfing. Then we, along with nearly everyone else at our gig, walked across the street to see Braid play the entirety of Frame and Canvas, which was amazing. We closed out the night with some free beers courtesy of the Braid guys. It couldn’t have been better.

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

On our first night of tour with Annabel, we played a place in Cleveland called the Happy Dog. This hot dog shop had only two choices of dogs—vegan, or not vegan—but fifty topping options including everything from peanut butter to roasted garlic aioli. Stuffing ourselves on hot dogs and beer whilst checking out the opening bands was a nice way to kick off the tour.

@footballetc

MARK TROMBINO

Mark Trombino is a producer (Blink 182) and drummer (Drive Like Jehu) who recently opened a custom donut shop in Los Angeles.

What was the food highlight of your year?

Well, I’d have to say opening up Donut Friend was the highlight of my year without a doubt.  It has been so overwhelming and crazy, but I’m loving it. And hating it.  But mostly loving it.

What was the music highlight of your year?

That’s easy: taking my niece to see Fun. at the Greek.  It was her first concert, with her favorite band, and I was stoked to be able to share that with her.  And also relieved she isn’t a Belieber. 

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

A few months ago I got to meet Bruce Moreland from one of my all time favorite bands, Wall of Voodoo, and give him a Walnut Voodoo donut.  That was pretty cool!

@marktrombino

MIKE SCHORR

Michael Schorr has played drums on records by Death Cab For Cutie, Stephen Malkmus, and The Long Winters. He is currently working as a video game designer

What was the music highlight of your year?

In May, my wife and I vacationed in Barcelona and were lucky to spend some time with our friend Carlos, a booker at Apolo.  One night he invited us to see Efterklang, a band neither of us had heard.  Efterklang played a captivating set filled with texture, nuance, and atmosphere.  For a pair of music lovers, it’s rare for us to stumble across a strange band and be so riveted by their sound!  Everything about that evening was perfect — the band, the company, the booze, and the wonderful energy of foreign travel.  

What was the food highlight of your year?

Traveling abroad as a vegetarian isn’t always easy, but it definitely has come along way.  Case in point, Sesamo.  Tucked away in the back of normal looking Spanish bar in El Raval (it took us a few passes to even find it!), this organic, vegetarian restaurant served us one of the best meals of our life.  I had an amazing salad concoction to start, tortellini with truffle oil for the main, and a pumpkin spice cake to finish, all accompanied by regional wine.  And for once, the incredibly slow pace and service of a restaurant was welcomed — we savored every bite and didn’t want it to end!  

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

For the past two summers, a small group of us from Seattle hop on motorcycles and take the scenic route down to La Pine, Oregon.  There we rent out a cabin in the middle of nowhere to decompress, catch up, feed our faces, and ride some incredible roads!  This year we curated a series of vegan meals and managed to find enough space on the motorcycles to bring boozy mixers!  We also took turns playing DJ with our phones, which always sparked good music conversations.  Sitting in the sun on the porch with drinks and good music was sublime!

@michaelschorr

GRAHAM ELLIOT

Graham Elliot is a chef, restauranteur, Masterchef judge, and Lollapalooza food curator.

What was the food highlight of your year?

Opening my first restaurant (Primary Food & Drink) outside of Chicago (Greenwich, CT).  Scary and exciting at the same time.

What was the music highlight of your year?

Morrissey putting out his autobiography 

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

There were many; cooking for Postal Service and Mumford & Sons at Lolla, cooking/hanging out with Knapsack and Jimmy Eat World at Graham Elliot Bistro.

@grahamelliot

JONATHAN WEINER

Jonathan Weiner is a rock photographer. He recently shot Wayne Coyne and Moby walking through downtown LA in full mariachi regalia for Rolling Stone.

What was the food highlight of your year?

Pinning down the food highlight of my year is a pretty hard thing to do, I really love finding new places as often as possible. I think the most mind melding moment was being introduced to the burrito shop Freebirds. I do not often frequent fast food or chain restaurants for that matter, so I feel like this is a weird selection for me. However, it totally changed my world when I found it. I am vegan, so for the most part a burrito means black beans and veggies, MAYBE rice and guacamole if I’m lucky (unless I’m going to a fully vegan restaurant). Most places I can’t eat at completely since mexican food typically uses lard in everything. In comes Freebirds, set up the same as Chipotle where you build your own burrito, except one major difference: EVERYTHING aside from the obvious is vegan! I can have refried and pinto beans, spanish rice, and so many flavorful add ons. It’s really quite simple, give me tons of tasty options instead of just quinoa and kale on a menu and I’m impressed!

Honorable mention is Pizzanista in the Arts District of LA. The only reason this isn’t my main choice is because I have a feeling that I discovered it in 2012. However, I LOVE it and wanted to mention it anyway. Where else can you get $2 tuesday NY sized slices, vegan garlic knots, and a skate or die shirt?! I bring a new person there almost every other week.

What was the music highlight of your year?

There has been so many awesome musical adventures I’ve been able to take part in this year. So many bands from my childhood that I never saw or haven’t seen in 15 years have been playing lately. Knapsack, Quicksand and Sparks were all really cool for me. The two highlights above all the rest I’d have to say were Flag and Johnny Marr, each in their own right. 

I was lucky enough to be invited to photograph Flag’s first real show together, a secret invite-only show at the Moose Lodge in Redondo Beach. There was about 150 people there, no stage, and its the same venue in which Black Flag played their very first show, before I was born! That show was amazing. Everything I remember going to punk shows to be growing up in DC. No cell phones, just pure fun. Every person in the crowd sang every song.

Next, I got to see Johnny Marr play at the Masonic Lodge in Hollywood Forever Cemetery. Seeing Johnny Marr play Smiths songs for the first time in over two decades is incredible enough, but then add that into a tiny venue in the middle of a cemetery…enough said! I’m pretty sure every person who plays guitar in that room decided they might as well give up after hearing him play those songs.

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

I’d say my favorite music/food coming together moment of the year was when Mark Trombino’s Donut Friend opened in Highland Park. I had been waiting months for this place to open. For years now the only vegan yeast donut option was to go to Ronald’s in Vegas (which is always amazing). Now there is a place 10 minutes from my home. If that wasn’t enough reason to get me excited, it comes with donut “compilations” with names such as Rites of Sprinkles, Coconut of Conformity, The Jelly Sound, Dag Nutty, Fudgegazi, ect. How could that not be awesome?!

@jonweinerphotos

JANE LERNER

Jane Lerner is a Brooklyn-based writer and editor who also runs BK Swappers, a bimonthly food-barter event. 

What was the food highlight of your year?

The most exquisite meal I had in 2013 was a one-off dinner at Aska in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, as part of the Scandinavian-themed North Festival. Aska’s Danish chef, Fredrik Berselius, and Esben Holmboe Bang from Oslo’s Maemo collaborated over nine courses, with not a dull dish in the lot. Even the details that could have been weird or pretentious (lamb aged for eight years, something called “meadowsweet”) ended up delicious and delightful. It was exciting to see two talented chefs in action, whirlwinds of creativity. There was a lot of spooning of butter sauces from perfect copper pots.

The single best bite I took all year however, was the mushroom-and-cheese taco at La Cuernavaca in Ventura, California, a classic Southern Cali Mexican place. It’s a table-service spot, not just a taqueria counter, but their Veggie Taco #2 (mushrooms, pasilla, cheese) was insanely good, shockingly so. The taco al pastor, topped with a huge chunk of pineapple, is also high up in my rankings.

Honorable highlights were had at Zahav in Philadelphia, where I went on the Fourth of July (because it’s patriotic to eat the best hummus ever made); at La Vara, Alex Raij’s fantastic Spanish-ish restaurant in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn; regular dinners at Buttermilk Channel, where I truly feel like a local; and the meals I cooked with my friends in the wood-burning pizza oven in the house we rented in the Catskills.

What was the music highlight of your year?

I saw a lot of live music this year (shoot, I saw four great concerts this past week alone) but without a doubt, my best show of the year—possibly the best show of my life—was Prince at City Winery. Yes, I saw Prince play unannounced in a club that held just a few hundred people. The minute he stepped onstage I pretty much exploded with joy, and the energy in that room was more electric than anything I’ve ever experienced. I was so close to the stage that my friends and I were in the spill of the spotlight—at one point I even caught eyes with him, and he smiled at me. Prince smiled at me! Months later, can hardly believe I had the good luck and great fortune to show up at this random New Power Generation show. I hit the concert jackpot, not sure where it goes from there.

I also had the honor of working for the Red Bull Music Academy New York 2013, which was so epic and extraordinary that as a whole, it surpassed any professional or personal experience this year, this decade, beyond. I met artists and writers and producers and personal heroes from all genres and eras; I saw once-in-a-lifetime live performances that will never be repeated. I edited a daily newspaper, went out dancing for a month straight and gave restaurant recommendations to Giorgio Moroder. 

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

There are many ways in which music and food intersect in my life, but my best story is from just a few weeks ago, when I traded tickets to a Kim Gordon show for a bounty of smoked salmon and Jewish delicacies from Russ & Daughters. Here’s how it went down: I bought two tickets to see Kim Gordon at Issue Project Room to go with my friend who is a longtime Sonic Youth fan. My friend had to cancel, so I posted on Twitter that I had two tickets to trade—not to sell for cash, but my offer was, what will you barter me for them? The first response was from the events director at Russ & Daughters, who offered me an equal-value shopping spree in the shop in exchange for the tickets. Sold! She had a great time at the performance, I went home with three kinds of smoked fish, latkes, babka, beet-herring salad, chopped liver and my signature Russ & Daughters sandwich (belly lox, scallion cream cheese, wasabi roe on a poppyseed bagel). I feel confident that I got the better end of the deal here.

@janelerner

CHRISTOPHER CHAISSON

Christopher Chaisson is singer/guitarist of The Young Leaves

What was the food highlight of your year?

This year was a big food year for me! Although it’s kind of funny, I’ve been struggling with food phobias since I was a kid, which has limited me significantly in terms of my diet and what I can/will eat. This year I decided that I was going to tackle some of my phobias head-on by trying different foods, in hopes of branching out and expanding my palate. 

Particularly, I made the brave leap into burritos, which contain a ton of ingredients that have freaked me out for years. Turns out, after a few bad experiences, I absolutely LOVE burritos! This self-discovery has been relatively huge for me because through conquering the burrito, I’ve been able to add several core foods to my diet like beans, rice, and lettuce. It may seem ridiculous and unimpressive to some, but it was a personal milestone which I’m super happy about.

What was the music highlight of your year?

My musical highlight of the year was easily the release of my band’s new full-length, Alive and Well. As with any release, I was extremely excited to get the record out, but this one was such an incredible process and ultimately felt more rewarding than anything that I’d done in the past. It was the first record that I did with my new drummer (and one of my best friends), Rico Delgado, and the chemistry and enjoyment we had while writing and recording these songs was truly awesome. I think we both feel like we accomplished something, and there’s not a greater feeling in the world. My runner-up musical highlight was playing Fest 12 and getting to see several of my favorite bands. It was an amazing experience and I’d like to thank Tony and everyone else who helped make it happen. I’m already stupidly excited for the next one!

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

Yes! Earlier in the year, I had a moment in which I considered quitting The Young Leaves and giving up on playing music in general. Our bassist had left us (on amicable terms) and I was undergoing some rough personal stuff, so I called up Rico and asked him to hang out, preparing to give him the whole “this band is over” speech. We met up at this place in my hometown called Outpost Farm, which neither of us had ever been to. I remember we both ordered these $4 Thanksgiving-style turkey sandwiches and they were quite possibly the greatest sandwiches that we’d ever had. While we were eating, I started to drop the bomb on Rico and, almost immediately, he told me to shut up and stop being irrational. I don’t know what it was about the combination of tough love and a delicious turkey/cranberry sandwich, but it ultimately saved the band. I’ll always remember that day.

@youngleavesma

PLINIO SANDALIO

Plinio Sandalio is Pastry Chef at The Carillon in Austin, TX.

What was the food highlight of your year?

That’s easy, dinner at Mini Bar in DC. The restaurant is everything you would expect from Jose Andres: small, intimate, classy and filled with wonderful surprises. Ate a 24+ courses tasting menu with champagne pairings, living the dream. The dishes were fun, familiar, playful and somehow entirely new. Best part, the following day I stopped by and worked in the kitchen for a few hours. I saw the magic as a guest, and as a chef.

What was the music highlight of your year?

The Cure at ACL this year. I’ve been a long time fan of the cure. Well, old cure. I stopped listening after Disintegration. I have never seen them and this year had free passes to ACL to see The Cure headlining. I just wish they played A Forest before the massive rain came pouring down. It poured and didn’t stop for hours. The entire crowd at ACL was soaked. No cars could come in or go out, we all had to organize a mass exodus. We must have looked like wet zombies slowly walking our way out of Zilker Park and into the center of downtown Austin.

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

I’ve been delving back more into my Bolivian culture. Learning about classic dishes, chicha, and the music. I’ve been cooking a lot more at home too. And in the restaurant, been introducing guests to southern desserts with a little Bolivian twist. My mom recently passed away. Her death has brought my father and I closer. He comes to Austin to visit often. We spend our time in the kitchen teaching each other dishes. I teach him how to braise and why braising is important. He teaches me about Bolivian dishes and pastries. The whole time we listen to Cuecas and other songs that were my moms favorite. And after a few beers, I pick up the guitar and play along to Los Hijos del Sol’s “Carinito”.

@pasandalio

JEFF MELTZ

Jeff Meltz is Owner and Creative Director at The Culture of Me.

What was the food highlight of your year?

My food highlight every year is actually every December when I go to Art Basel Miami Beach and I get to have David’s Cafe’s cafe con leche. I don’t know what it is, it’s just the best Cuban coffee ever. For food though, I had this amazing meal at Back Forty here in New York City, and the dessert was these freshly made doughnuts and salted caramel ice cream that was so good I started laughing. I couldn’t stop.

What was the music highlight of your year?

The Red Bull Music Academy came to New York this year and I got to check out the studio spaces before the sessions began, and it was incredible. But during the week they did a ‘Culture Clash’ competition between these four crews that I love a ton (Que Bajo, Federation Sound, Young Guru & Just Blaze, and Trouble & Bass. To finish off their final battles, the guests that the crews brought out were the stuff of legend: Tifa, Kardinal Official, Flatbush Zombies, Nina Sky, Cam’ron, 2 Chainz, Jadakiss, Styles P, Bun-B, Wale, Lady Lesshur, Jahdan Blakkamore, and Robin S even came out to do “Show Me Love”(!!!!) It was just one of those nights I won’t ever forget.

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

I want this one to be less about me (most of my music & food coming together stories involve new music and eating tacos or pizza) so I’ll just say that the greatest thing that happened that involves these two things colliding was probably the video for Anamanaguchi’s “Endless Fantasy”, where the band put a piece of pizza in space. Not to be missed.

@thecultureofme

JEFF BAILEY

Jeff Bailey has played bass in Phosphorescent and owns Whirlybird, a breakfast taco cafe in Brooklyn.

What was the food highlight of your year?

I made the best meatloaf I’ve ever had last week. 

What was the music highlight of your year?

Seeing Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds back in March.  Made me want to go home and write Brimstone prose and growl it in A Minor. 

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

Seeing the last Shivers show at Manhattan Inn while eating their Brick Chicken. 

@whirlybirdny

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

MATT COHEN

Matt Cohen is Associate Editor at DCist and a columnist at The Week.

What was the food highlight of your year?

There’s this ramen restaurant in D.C. called Toki Underground that’s arguably one of the most popular, highly regarded restaurants in the city. It’s got a reputation not only for serving the best ramen (again, arguably), but also for being impossible to get a table at. The restaurant, situated above one of my favorite dive bars in Northeast D.C. is a tiny space (the entire place seats maybe 20-30 people), doesn’t take reservations and there’s always at least an hour wait. I’ve lived in D.C. for four years and have tried to go to this place many different times, only to find that the wait was almost two hours every time. I finally managed to eat at Toki Underground this year, and it was glorious. An exceptional ramen place that’s easy on the wallet and surpasses its reputation. If you’re ever in D.C., make it a point to go here (my advice is to put your name on the list, then go drink at the bar below, The Pug).

What was the music highlight of your year?

Oh man, there are many to choose from, but I’ll try to keep it to three: 1) I’m always skeptical of band reunions, but I thought the show I caught of Texas Is The Reason’s reunion tour at the Black Cat in D.C. was particularly memorable, if only because it felt like such a warranted, welcomed reunion. So many bands reunite and tour for the wrong reasons, but theirs felt so natural and organic, and created such an energy between the band onstage. 2)  I’m not a huge festival person, but I went to Pitchfork Festival for the first time and really enjoyed it. So many great bands—The Breeders, Swans, Bjork, Waxahatchee, Yo La Tengo, El-P and Killer Mike, Pissed Jeans, Wire—all in one place. It’s hard for anything to top that. 3) Reviewing albums for year-end lists last week, I had the revelation that friend’s bands made some of my favorite albums of the year. I couldn’t be more excited for them. 

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

There’s a legendary free summer concert series in D.C. at a park called Fort Reno that’s been going on for decades. Over the years, many of D.C.’s finest have played it regularly—Fugazi, The Dismemberment Plan, Q and Not U, Teen Idles, Ted Leo, etc.—and its become a summer staple for me. I can think of no better moment of when food and music came together than packing up a homemade picnic with friends and trekking over to Fort Reno to eat and catching some of the best local bands play. 

@matt_d_cohen

JEFF TURNER

Jeff Turner plays guitar in XO and Say Anything.

What was the food highlight of your year? 

Holy Mole in Long Beach has been my favorite place to eat all year. Super consistent burritos.

What was the music highlight of your year? 

My Bloody Valentine releasing MBV, their first album in 20+ years.

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

Being on tour and finding Saturday Morning Cafe with my girlfriend Molly. The breakfast was amazing and we were treated like royalty.

@xotheband

TOMMY HABETZ

Tommy Habetz is co-owner of Bunk Sandwiches and Bunk Bar in Portland.

What was the food highlight of your year?

The food highlight for me was a dinner that Nick and I were lucky enough to be a part of a few weeks ago in Toronto. My friend, Scott Vivian, invited us up to take part in a Charlie’s Burger dinner with the Group of 7 Chefs and David Bazirgan from the 5th Floor in SF. We got to cook alongside some of Canada’s best chefs. It was a great dinner, so much fun. It really opened my eyes to the incredibly talented chefs living and working in the great white north. David Bazirgan did a great Walleye poached in horse fat. And Matty Matheson did a sort of a Horse Pot au Feu. Eating horse is pretty common in a lot of other countries, but still is a hot button topic in Portland, OR. I really don’t understand why it is socially acceptable to eat cows, ducks, deer, etc., but horse is a no-no. Or is it a nay-nay, maybe? Anyway, one animal’s life is just as important as another animal’s life - And, as a disclaimer, selling horse meat is still illegal in the US, including Oregon. It was a great meal, and incredibly eye opening and educational to boot. Unfortunately, Mayor Rob Ford and Drake weren’t there, but you can’t have everything. Thanks, Canada! 

What was the music highlight of your year?

I feel so lucky to say that this is a really tough question. There have been so many musical highlights this past year: Parquet Courts, Deafheaven, Angel Olson, Love Language…so many great shows at Bunk Bar. But the highlight, for me, was getting to go to Chicago to Riot Fest with my brother, Michael, to see The Replacements reunion, and then an after show from the one and only Rocket From the Crypt at The Double Door. They shook both doors off, goddamnit. So good. 

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

Food and music came together for me at Huichica Festival at Gundlach-Bunschu Winery in Sonoma. Whether it was driving through the Redwoods blasting “I Am a Tree” by GBV, eating Poppycock. Or maybe somewhere right about here: Bob Weir! Muffalettas! God bless America!

@tommyhabetz

ANDY HARRIS

Andy Harris manages Finch, plays in Chune, and owns the Grand Ole BBQ catering company.

What was the food highlight of your year?

This year was good for food as I got to do some touring again. I have my catering co. (Grand Ole BBQ) and I also manage Finch. Finch did some world touring this year and I hit up some great food along the way. Some of the most memorable meals were Avec in Chicago - To date one of the best dinners I have ever had. Their chorizo stuffed dates could get me to move to Chicago. Le Comptoir in Paris kinda flipped me out. Deviled Eggs & Foie Gras. Call me naive. I had no idea the french did the devil. I cried in my bordeaux. Amazing. Last but far from least: Full on 2-day BBQ meat frenzy  in AUSTIN: Franklin, La Barbecue, Kreuz Market, etc. I hadn’t been to Texas since starting a BBQ catering co. and Texas is king of BBQ! I went vegan for about two weeks after that little fiasco. 

What was the music highlight of your year?

I manage Finch and they got back together to do a 10 year anniversary tour of their first record, What It Is To Burn. I managed them back during this record, we split ways during their second record, and now we are back working together. Anyways…. getting to go on tour again with these dudes was fun for me. I had not been around a whole lot of music for awhile. It got the juices flowing - so much we booked a Chune show in January at the Casbah. 

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

2013 as been all food and rock touring. From Poutine to Haggis, I got to go around the world in 2013 and eat food like I never have before. I am thankful for this as I have learned so much to bring back to my own catering co.