Holly Muñoz, formerly of the band Aviette, is recording her debut solo album with John Vanderslice.
What was the food highlight of your year?
My 2013 food highlight was a two-way tie (I know, I know.) between a meal including sweet potato casserole, greens, roast beef, cornbread and butter, fried catfish, hush puppies, mac and cheese, green beans, hot pepper chocolate pie, and more cornbread and butter at Arnold’s Country Kitchen in Nashville and two memorable chef’s choice dinners at Ichi Sushi in San Francisco. I guess that’s technically three. But these meals were AMAZING. Why? Because Arnold (who I didn’t meet, but I’m sure is a badass) and Tim and Erin (who I know well, and are, badass) from Ichi use food as a delivery vehicle for endless, boundless, ceaseless love.
What was the music highlight of your year?
I recently relocated from Minneapolis, MN to the Bay Area to work with the San Francisco Symphony. Much to my surprise, it’s difficult to move from a city where you’ve lived for 15 years and know lots and lots of people to somewhere you’ve lived for zero years and know like, four people. So this summer things are pretty down, like down to the point of embracing chaos theory. And one morning I wake up and remember that I have to work the Bobby McFerrin concert. And I’m like, “Seriously, universe? Another 14-hour day that will not involve getting lost in my couch with Season 1 of Grey’s Anatomy? And it’s the Don’t Worry Be Happy guy? Classic.
But then I go. And I’m listening to this man who is a MUSICAL GENIUS. Like, HOW DID I NOT KNOW THAT BOBBY MCFERRIN IS A MUSICAL GENIUS?! And he’s exuberant and warm and singing about Jesus. And his band is exquisite. And pretty much everyone at Davies is floored. I can seriously say that in that moment Bobby restored my faith in humanity. FOREVER.
Was there a moment when food and music came together in a memorable way?
Last weekend I played a living room concert in New York City to promote a new record I’m making with John Vanderslice. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but it ended up turning into one of those all night amazing people/beautiful potluck deals with a couple kale salads, veggie tacos, homemade Vietnamese spring rolls, flourless chocolate cake (four ingredients: coconut oil, cacao, vanilla, and maple syrup), a selection of some of Bedford Cheese Shop's stinkiest/finest, popcorn, more chocolate, and traditional Kashmiri lentils and meatballs compliments of the visiting mother of the guy who lives on the 6th floor and, it turns out, is a killer musician in a band called, Zerobridge.