Warren Oakes co-owns Boca Fiesta restaurant, plays drums in Sunshine State, and is a former member of Against Me!
What was the food highlight of your year?
My food highlight was a pilgrimage to the very recently closed Hot Doug's in Chicago. (RIP)
I have eaten at Doug's easily a dozen times over the past 8 years and consider it to be, perhaps the most perfectly executed concept I've ever experienced. The menu was focused and expansive simultaneously, with the format unwaveringly tube-shaped meat, but the variations were epic. I had venison, wild boar, kangaroo, foie gras, buffalo, elk, and reindeer dogs at various times, paired with duck fat fries on the weekends. As far as I know, Doug Himself took every single order every single day. Believe the legend! Hot Doug's was the real deal and will be missed.
What was the music highlight of your year?
Directly after waiting in line at Hot Doug's for about 5 hours in order to get our final fix, my fearless co-pilot and I rented a car and drove to the twin cities to eat a Jucy Lucy (burger with a molten cheese core) at Matts bar in Minneapolis and then crossed over to St. Paul to see the Replacements! Old buds Hold Steady and Lucero opened the show and every band KILLED IT. Perfect combo trip of food and music. Shout out to MKR for being my partner in crime!
Was there a moment when food and music came together in a memorable way?
Eating Cuban sandwiches in Miami after a really fun Sunshine State show at Gramps deserves a nod. Yum!