Here is some, um, food for thought: what does jazz music taste like? And what about the classical, blues, country, and rock sounds?
You may not have thought about pairing food with music, but know this: careful matchmaking will help you create a harmonious and melodious experience. Yes, you can blend meals and soundtracks totally haphazardly (and nobody but a purist would notice the mish-mash). But, really, there is a far better way to achieve a smooth and coherent meld of two of life’s most pleasurable pursuits.
Now, in case you are thinking we are making this up, rest assured that we are not. True, pairing food with music is not exactly a widespread trend (yet), but it is growing. For example, a San Francisco-based project, Turntable Kitchen actually invents soundtracks for various recipes.
What is involved in this process? As Turntable’s Mathew Hickey explains it, “When I select a pairing, I like to start by thinking about the flavors in the meal. I’ll write down a few descriptive terms to help get the process going with words like floral, sweet, rustic, intense, subtle, upbeat, textured, contemporary, etc. I’ll also take into account geographic factors, which can help narrow down my selections. So, for example, if we have a sweet, upbeat and rustic recipe that includes ingredients that are commonly associated with the Pacific Northwest, I’ll go through my record collection and rack my brain for a band whose music is also sweet, upbeat, rustic and, ideally, from the Pacific Northwest.”
Now, here’s a question you probably never thought of asking: how does Bob Dylan taste? The answer is not blowin’ in the wind but, rather, comes from Blair Warsham, chef and co-founder of the “Covers” dinner and song series, who told the New York Times that the singer tastes “like aged beef, soy and seaweed. The beef represents Dylan’s leathery exterior and the seaweed and soy provide heavy notes that pair well with his raspy voice.”
And according to an NPR blog, classical music is the best match for a turkey dinner, as well as a variety of other dishes. As the article states: “Would you like some schlag with your Strauss? Are roast beef and Copland what’s for dinner? Would prosecco and a Rossini overture be a perfect kickoff to your Thanksgiving meal?”
What would YOU serve as an accompaniment to your favorite piece of music? If you are partial to rock, you might like to prepare a sizzling and fiery meal like a red curry; country sounds may call for tangy barbecued ribs and a sweet corn on the cob, while classical tunes probably go well with something smooth and sweet (chocolate mousse, anyone?)
On a personal note, we love pasta and think that its texture goes benissimo with a powerful tenor voice – like Andrea Bocelli’s
Obviously, the food–music pairing is not an exact science and, therefore, is totally subjective. That is just as well because you can use your own imagination to create a personalized menu that will please both your palate and your ear.
At Hey Joe Guitar, we like all kinds of arts – including the culinary ones. We have to admit, however, that we sometimes eat meals that are not at all compatible with the music playing on the iPod.
What about our teachers? If truth be told, they may be clueless as to what foods go well with Beethoven or which tunes match broccoli. Teaching music, however, is a piece of cake.
No matter which instrument you or your child would like to play – guitar, piano, drums, violin, or any other – one of our “cream of the crop” teachers will come to your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office and give you personalized, “a la carte” lessons.
