James Vincent was named 2012 Grand Cochon King of Porc, a 2013 Food & Wine best new chef, and a 2014 James Beard semi-finalist, Great Lakes region.
Read MoreJEFF BUNDSCHU
Jeff Bundschu is President of Gundlach Bundschu Winery and co-founder of Huichica Music Festival.
What was the food highlight of your year?
Hands down stumbling into State Bird Provisions one night last spring. I was taking my daughter and her friend to see G-Eazy at the Fillmore in SF and had a few hours to kill. SBP is just adjacent to the venue and the commotion through the window, the line outside, and the understated sign all caught my eye. Somewhere in the fog I might have heard the name and it was enough for me to go in and ask the concierge if there was any way I might get a seat at the bar. I have since heard that it books two months in advance for reservations. She took my phone number, pointed me to a good bar and said she'd text within 45 minutes. Thirty minutes later I was in and sitting and then the adventure started. The bar was right up against the kitchen and the cook in front of me doubled as my server, host, and food educator. Knowing nothing of the format when I sat down, I was mesmerized by the checklist menu, the pick-and-choose little dishes that kept coming by seat-side, and the continual commentary by the super friendly chef. I don't remember any one thing I ate that night, probably because I ate EVERYTHING. On a night where sitting in my car in a parking garage reading the latest New Yorker was an acceptable option, I instead wandered into the meal of year!
What was the music highlight of your year?
My homegrown choice has to be Real Estate at the amphitheater under the stars at Gundlach Bundschu winery. It was just down right epic. I LOVE that band and to have them on our hillside making that beautiful music brought me to tears more than once. Like Blitzen Trapper in 2013, it was one of those pinch me moments - as in, 'That band, here?'.
Away from home it was for sure tUne yArDs at the Pabst theater in Milwaukee. I had been wanting to see them/her for years having stumbled into an early record prepping for a SxSW trip a while back, and it was serendipity that they were playing one of America's most iconic theaters on my one free night. Merrill Garbus is a treasure and she just killed it. So super unique and creative, her music is driven by rhythm and vocals, and some other worldly force. They really are way way outside, but some how still so approachable.
Was there a moment when food and music came together in a memorable way?
Easy breezy: Jammin on a BUNK cubano, swigging Gun Bun Mountain Cuvee, and grooving to Kelley Stoltz at Huichica Music Festival. Yeah I am a homer and totally biased, but blah blah. If there is a better food/music (and wine!) scene I haven't found it.
STUART BRIOZA & NICOLE KRASINSKI
Stuart and Nicole own State Bird Provisions in San Francisco.
Read MoreMICHELLE POLZINE
Michelle Polzine’s 20th Century Cafe was an instant critical darling upon opening in San Francisco last summer.
What was the food highlight of your year?
The food highlight of my year was cooking a dinner won at auction to benefit meals on wheels with Melissa Perello and Nicole Krasinski. Not only cooking with great chefs, but I got to provide a savory course, and it was my first moment away from the cafe since it had opened.
What was the music highlight of your year?
We were closed on New Year’s Eve and the day after, so my husband and I saw Frightwig, Redd Kross, and the Melvins at Great American Music Hall. And we weren’t the oldest people there.
Was there a moment when food and music came together in a memorable way?
Food and music came together when Hank Rank (Crime) bought out the Linzertorte just as Rick Rodgers (Chelsea Market Cookbook) was ordering dessert. What could I do?
DAVID RODRICK
David Rodrick is the talent buyer for Noise Pop and the Treasure Island Music Festival.
What was the food highlight of your year?
Dinner at State Bird Provisions.
What was the music highlight of your year?
The Sound City Players show at Stubb’s in Austin featuring Dave Grohl, Stevie Nicks, Chris Goss, Taylor Hawkins, Rick Nielsen, Brad Wilk, Krist Novoselic, Alain Johannes, John Fogerty,and Lee Ving.
Was there a moment when food and music came together in a memorable way?
The 20th Street Block Party in San Francisco with music by Mac DeMarco and lunch from Flower + Water.
ZACH BROOKS
Zach Brooks co-hosts the Food Is The New Rock podcast and founded Midtown Lunch.
What was the food highlight of your year?
I’m going to have to go with the 8 person meal I had at Chi Spacca, here in Los Angeles (not by myself obviously, but with 7 other people.) We took over the counter and had enough people to tackle a good portion of the menu - including the $175 bisteca fiorentina and the insanely rich and delicious bone marrow pie. Also, their charcuterie is hands down the best in the city.
Update: Ate at State Bird Provisions last night, and it wasn’t even close. Best meal of 2013.
What was the music highlight of your year?
Matt & Kim at Outside Lands and Haim at Life is Beautiful. Both surprised me in the best way possible.
Was there a moment when food and music came together in a memorable way?
This is an easy one. We had Chef Jamie Bissonnette from Toro (NYC & Boston) on the podcast this year when he was in L.A. doing a pop up dinner with Viet Pham and Ricardo Zarate, and during the interview he mentioned how much of a huge Fitz & the Tantrums fan he was. Coincidentally enough we were talking to Noelle from Fitz about coming on the podcast that same week, so we surprised Jamie by bringing her to his pop up dinner. The food was amazing (naturally) and we created a life long friendship.
EMILY HOBSON
Emily Hobson has worked at several music technology companies and can occasionally be found spinning vinyl in her hometown of San Francisco.
What was the food highlight of your year?
Bar Tartine’s Fermentation feast with Sandor Katz, author of Wild Fermentation and The Art of Fermentation. The Fish stew there continues to be one of the most comforting dishes in town.
State Bird Provisions opened in January and has been a delight to visit all year long. The concept is perfect for sharing and they never fail to send out amazing food.
Even after two years, Bar Agricole continues to produce amazing and food and drinks. Everything is super-fresh and thoughtful without being precious.
The prevalence of purslane all summer long on nearly everything.
Boot and Shoe Service’s great brunch.
Turnip soup at Comstock Saloon‘s Friday (free) lunch.
Portland Cocktail Week. It’s like to a music festival but totally focused on spirits and community.
What was the music highlight of your year?
Bob Mould plays Sugar’s Copper Blue at Bottom of The Hill
Other Lives at Great American Music Hall
Sharon Van Etten/The War On Drugs at The Independent
Was there a moment when food and music came together in a memorable way?
It turns out combining food, music, and the outdoors can be a winning combination. Who knew? Most of my memorable combinations of food and music arrived in a variety of excellent outdoor settings.
Two shows at Mountain Winery: Blondie/Devo and Go-Go’s/Psychedelic Furs pre-show tailgating at Mountain Winery. A beautiful view followed by great music at a stunning venue.
The Woodist Fest, Henry Miller Memorial LIbrary, Big Sur and the two day picnicking in the redwoods.
A hillside picnic at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass for Nick Lowe.
The confluence of food, wine, and music and sun at The Huichica fest. Our host cracked open a bottle of 1969 Lanson Champagne for breakfast to kick it all off.
New Order at The Fox followed by snacks and cocktails at Flora.
MATT NORRIS
Matt Norris manages the beverage program at Soluna and 50 Mason in San Francisco.
What was the food highlight of your year?
Food highlight of the year is a toss up between a gorgeously executed anniversary dinner at Quince and a casual, yet delicious night at State Bird Provisions. Both experiences provided an opportunity to enjoy many different tastes and textures. Quince made me feel like royalty, lavishing us with personal touches and excellent wine pairings. State Bird feels as though you have stumbled into an alternate universe where dim sum buns and dumplings have been replaced with unique, fresh offerings showcasing the bounty of our amazing local produce.
What was the music highlight of your year?
Saw some great music this year, but the highlight would have to be the Flaming Lips playing The Soft Bulletin at Bimbo’s. Getting a chance to see a band that now headlines festivals play a seminal album in it’s entirety at an intimate venue can’t be beat. Plus, I got invited to the show the night of, so that spontaneity contributed to the surreal feel of the night. I also got a chance to bond with my brother-in-law and I almost forgot, confetti canons in small spaces are awesome!
Was there a moment when food and music came together in a memorable way?
Day 2 of Treasure Island while sharing a Korrito from the Seoul On Wheels truck with my wife, while watching the Divine Fits, M83, and the sunset. Need I say more?