Geoffrey Weiss is a 25 year industry vet (A&M, Warner Bros., Hollywood Records) and record collector. He currently manages Dylan Gardner.
What was the food highlight of your year?
Chengdu Taste (Alhambra, I haven't tried the other one) has so many overwhelming and fantastic dishes I would go there every day if I could. The toothpick lamb is mostly cumin, the numb-taste wontons are mostly heat, the roasted eggplant seems to get some essence out of eggplant I've never tasted before. The combination of finesse and brutality never fails to amaze. I dream about this place.
What was the music highlight of your year?
Ty Segall's Manipulater is a great rock record in an era with too few of them. He writes real songs, delivers them with fire, and surrounds himself with like-minded true-believer souls. People who say he releases too many records have it exactly backwards.
Was there a moment when food and music came together in a memorable way?
Stepping out of a car blaring Vaughn Williams into Teo's Hot Dogs in Pittsfield, MA was a memorable moment.