Rick Gencarelli is chef/owner of Lardo, Grassa, and Philippe's Bread.
What was the food highlight of your year?
This year in addition to opening a third Lardo location we opened a bakery called Philippe's Bread. We now provide bread for the Lardo locations and Grassa. Making that change was stressful and scary but totally worth it. We now have the ability to design sandwiches that are totally outside of what we are used to. It's next level and very exciting!
What was the music highlight of your year?
I saw a lot of great music this year but the show I am still talking about is Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. They killed it. No words could really do it justice so I won't bother. I will tell you that I brought my twelve year old son and he helped hold Nick Cave up as he walked on the chairs through the orchestra singing Tupelo. Yes, a proud moment for a dad.
Was there a moment when food and music came together in a memorable way?
This year I went back to Connecticut for my 30th high school reunion, that's right I said 30th. I ate mediocre (at best) banquet food and listened to terrible 80's music with people that I have known for more than three decades. It was strange and wonderful and I felt a deep connection. A perfect example of the sum being greater than the parts.