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!