Mike Markel is the Editor of Brash. Photo by Ben Rhau
What was the food highlight of your year?
For me it was Nobu’s club sandwich in Vegas. I grew up in the Midwest and I’ve loved the club sandwich since I was a kid. It’s classic, has all of the essentials, and more often than not when you order a club it’s hard for anything to go wrong. I’ve had hundreds of them but Nobu’s version stands out because of the presentation and unique flavors packed into six small bites. It’s made up of miso chicken, bacon, diced tomato, lettuce, and mustard ponzu aioli wrapped in a maki-style roll of soft bread with a crispy buttered exterior similar to grilled cheese. To top it off there’s a bitter salad in the middle of the plate with a tart vinaigrette that pulls everything together. Club purists may disagree but this one is at the top of my list.
What was the music highlight of your year?
Seeing Brand New at The Observatory in Orange County. They played Your Favorite Weapon and Deja Entendu back-to-back including B-sides. I’ve been waiting for years to catch them on tour because tickets sell out in seconds. It was really special because I saw them with my wife Ashley and it was our first trip back to LA and O.C. since we moved to the Bay Area. I’ve never seen a band play for nearly three hours and have as much fun as they did on stage.
Was there a moment when food and music came together in a memorable way?
Do drinks count? If so, it was taking a breather toward the end of my wedding reception to take it all in and enjoy a pint of Oberon from Bell’s Brewery (Kalamazoo) with my wife. The moment was short-lived when we were pulled on to the dance floor into a giant circle of family and friends as Don’t Stop Believin’ came on. Everyone sang at the top of their lungs and it was the perfect combination of great beer, the best family and friends I could ever ask for, and a song that is fitting considering I’m from the Detroit area and Journey is from San Francisco where we now live. Oberon is tied to a lot of great summer memories for me but the next time (and every time) I have a pint of it I’ll think about that day.