Rock in the kitchen? Lost in the Supermarket: The Indie Rock Cookbook gets lost in translation

published in Venus Zine on 9/26/08

Melding food and Fenders, authors Kay Bozich Owens and Lynn Owens share a collection of their favorite bands' recipes in their book, Lost in the Supermarket, investigating what they eat and why. The concept is irresistible to those who feel as passionate about food as they do about music. Unfortunately, though the book mimics a cookbook in format, it relies heavily on the prestige of featured bands instead of serving as a culinary guide.

The book has an impressive line-up of notable bands — Sonic Youth, Animal Collective, Genesis P-Orridge, and Belle and Sebastian — making it a natural draw for any music fan. And though there is no claim of idol worship, the book's organization prioritizes a band’s reputation over culinary merit. The problem with this approach for a cookbook is that not all musicians are epicureans, or necessarily have a special relationship with food.

In this day and age, when both bands and cooking are the basis of hip, exclusive coteries, an indie rock cookbook seems like a hushed invitation into the intimate off-hours in a band’s life; the same intrigue that helped foster the popularity of MTV Cribs. The difference between Cribs and Lost in the Supermarket is that voyeurism may be suitable for an hour of cable television, but not when investing in a cookbook. Mainly, the Owenses do not convince the reader why she should try or even care about these recipes.

The book’s recipes often focus on the history of the band as opposed to their connection with the food, with a few snarky submissions, like Xiu Xiu’s “Tofu”: a self-explanatory wash-and-eat recipe without any direct commentary from the band; and Japanther’s “Ultra Healthy Hot Dog”: a peanut butter and banana sandwich. This isn’t to say that all of the recipes sound unappealing or have an ironic tone. Brian Viglione from the Dresden Dolls offers a home recipe for pasta sauce and an anecdote about its history in his family, while the Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players share a “Good Morning Bread” recipe and a description of life in New York’s East Village — the type of intriguing entries that would have been an excellent focus for the cookbook.

Trying to cram too many good ideas into one book, or possibly facing a lack of compliance or interest on behalf of the bands, the Owens' project leaves much to be desired. Perhaps there are musicians who are good cooks or have a special relationship with food, but the Owenses had obvious difficulty finding them. And while many of these bands might be lost in the supermarket when it comes to cooking, the point of a cookbook is to make sure the reader isn’t.

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ABOUT THE BOOK
Lost in the Supermarket: The Indie Rock Cookbook (Soft Skull Press)
By Kay Bozich Owens and Lynn Owens
192 pages
$17.95


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Carly Fisher loves the Black Cab Sessions

staff favorite for Venus Zine published on 9/22/08

At least two people recently asked me if I had been on Taxicab Confessions coked out of my mind in the backseat with a random dude. If anyone saw this episode, I’d like to clarify it wasn’t me. However, the bands on blackcabconfessions.com are readily identifiable and significantly less embarrassing, using a back of a taxi cab as a venue for an acoustic gig on the go. Notable indie acts such as Lykke Li, the Futureheads, the New Pornographers, and Spoon, are a few of the contributors to the project. Having just hit its 50th session in July 2008, the project is still truckin’ — er, cabbing.

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Carnitas El Paisa

commissioned for Centerstage, publishing date TBA

According to restaurant owner Atendidos por Barbarita, Carnitas El Paisa roughly translates to “meats, my friend,” which is essentially what you get at this authentic Mexican eatery — lots of it. And by “authentic,” we’re not talking about your run-of-the-mill taqueria. Carnitas El Paisa does offer a small selection of your average tacos, tortas and burritos, but patrons know to come in for the carnitas, chicharron and barbacoa. Unfortunately, Barbarita says most people who are not Mexican have no idea what the items are.

For the authentic Mexican food novice, here’s what to expect: most noticeably are the massive crispy pieces of deep-fried pork belly, which great customers as they walk in called chicharron. Then there are the carnitas, which are juicy pieces of pork that have been marinated for several hours, and barbacoa, which is steamed beef or goat. All dishes are available as entrees with rice, beans and tortillas for $9-$9.50, or sold by the pound. Unsurprisingly, vegetarians are looking at yet another rice-‘n’-beans or cactus salad night.

With only six or seven items featured, Carnitas El Paisa is deceptively simple. Barbarita says she will put in about seven hours of prep work on Friday and Saturday mornings as early as 3 a.m. or 4 a.m. and sometimes more depending on special orders. Despite a spacious and charming dining room, the restaurant is often quieter than one might expect. The reason being that business thrives on carry-out as opposed to dine-in, which is mainly how the restaurant manages to close as early as 6 p.m. on weeknights and 8 p.m. on the weekend. Although not nearly as popular as lunch or dinner, early risers can also stop in Carnitas El Paisa for breakfast — authentic Mexican, of course. “We serve breakfast,” Barbarita says. “But no pancakes.”

Hours: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday; 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday-Sunday; closed Tuesday

Latin American Restaurant and Lounge

commissioned for Centerstage, publishing date TBA

And yet another contender enters the fight for the title of "Oldest Authentic Puerto Rican Restaurant in Humboldt Park." Opened in 1958, Latin American Restaurant and Lounge certainly has the age to back the claim from current owner Jaime Cruz. Whether or not the restaurant wins the title, it certainly has the sustained long enough to make it a neighborhood staple.

Family is a key component of the restaurant. Cruz inherited the restaurant from his uncle, who founded the restaurant in hopes of bringing family-sized home-style Puerto Rican recipes from his kitchen to the neighborhood table. Despite the notable presence of a pool table and bar that takes up a good half of the restaurant, the atmosphere caters to families with children for dinner time and then casually transcends into a sports bar by late evening.

As far as Latin American cuisine, you're looking at a predominantly Puerto Rican menu — mostly in Spanish — with a few Mexican and American dinner items scattered among the entrees. Vegetarian options are essentially non-existent, so it's safe to say that nothing is vegan either— bad news for the herbivores. Likewise, if you're counting points for Weight Watchers, you might as well break your fast, assuming that everything you are ordering is fried. For the rest of you oil loving meat eaters, if you're totally clueless when it comes to Puerto Rican fare, it's best to start with the steak jibarito (plantain sandwich) with rice for $6.25, or the Chuletas Kan Kan (roast pork) paired with a side of plantain chips or mashed plantains for $9.95. Desserts are only $2.00, so you won't break the bank by tacking on flan or tembleque (Puerto Rican coconut pudding).

Cruz says to expect programs like Monday night football specials and Friday night karaoke to start appearing within the next few weeks, where families are welcome to ditch the babysitter and bring the kiddies. Then again, family restaurants aren’t for everyone, which is why the restaurant also offers the convenience of delivery.

Hours: 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Sun-Thu, 9 a.m.-11 p.m. Fri-Sat

Carly Fisher loves Boat Club

staff favorite for Venus Zine published 9/3/08

The problem with an amazing EP is the 10 to 28 minute length tends to leave an unsatisfied craving for more. After being whisked away by Boat Club's dreamy, nautical synths and then awaking to the harsh reality of your constrictive day job, you might find yourself upset that your mental vacation was cut to an EP length. Airy and electronic with retro-inspired beats, the Swedish group's aptly titled and highly underrated 2007 release Caught the Breeze has been on heavy rotation on my iTunes for some time now. When are we gonna see a full release, Boat Club?

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Caught on tape

published in Venus Zine's 2008 Fall issue

Back when the portable audio standard was the Walkman, a meticulously planned mixtape was the ultimate token of showing that special someone you truly care. Cassettefrommyex.com dusts off old mixtapes and shares the intimate stories behind the plastic from awkward first dates to summers filled with Faith No More, Patty Loveless, and Digable Planets.

The concept is a natural transition for Jason Bitner, co-creator of Cassettefrommyex.com. Bitner formerly worked at FOUND Magazine, which publishes lost-and-found letters and scribbles, providing readers with a vague look into a stranger’s life. For Cassettefrommyex.com, Bitner and his production crew launced the site in March by inviting their creative type friends to write narratives about mixtapes from their ex-boyfriends and girlfriends.

“I was rummaging around in my basement a few months ago when I happened upon a relic of my teen years: Music To Soak Your Toe To,” Bitner says. “This mixtape, compiled for me by my then-girlfriend Kate, stayed with me for 17 years. I knew that if I had kept an old mixtape that most everyone must have one in a dusty shoebox somewhere.”

Stand-out “ex” stories include Magnetic Fields’ Claudia Gonson waxing nostalgic about her high school sweetheart and Dave Nadelberg, author of the MORTIFIED project, a cringe-worthy collection of teenage diary entries. Nadelberg recites an anecdote about an aptly titled “Obliteration” mix from a short-lived fling: “We were at a rave in Ithaca, New York. I was drunk-ish. She was stoned-ish. Despite our inebriated vision, it was lust at first sight-ish.”

Reader of the Week: Abby Schwartz

published in Venus Zine on 9/1/08

Abby Schwartz is leading something of a double life. By day, Schwartz works as a coordinator for the San Diego LGBT Community Center, planning events and referring LGBT women and allies to queer friendly health care services. After hours, Schwartz transforms into budding feminist rap persona MC Flow, busting rhymes alongside big acts like Yo Majesty, T.I., and Clipse, and winning a 2007 San Diego Music Award in the “Best Hip-Hop” category. Schwartz talks here about the challenges she’s faced in becoming a fly femcee, and shows her love for Venus Zine with a few rhymes.

How did MC Flow develop?
I wrote poetry and did spoken word for many years before I started rapping. I hosted an open mic for women in San Diego called Siren for a number of years where I met a lot of local musicians. A few of my closest friends and I decided to put some of my poetry and newly written raps to music. Over time, my band mate Taylor and I got more serious about the project. She put down her guitar and started writing beats, and from there things just took off. We later hooked up with our dancer, GG, and our DJ, Rob Fayder, completing the band. I couldn’t think of a funnier, simpler name for a feminist rapper than MC Flow. I think I had just finished reading Inga Muscio’s book Cunt for the tenth time when I named myself that.

What was your first show like?
My first show was probably embarrassing! I think I wore baggy track pants and an extra large T-shirt, and tried to be the picture of what I thought a rapper should look like. The best lesson I ever learned was just to be myself. Trying to pass myself as gangsta is ridiculous — I’m a Jewish lesbian from Westchester!

How have you evolved as a rapper?
I think I’ve evolved a lot as a performer. I’m a lot more comfortable and confident on stage than I used to be. I have learned to just have fun with it.

What challenges have you had to face being a female rapper?
I’ve faced my share of challenges. I’ve had guys come up to me after shows and ask, “So who writes your raps?” when I write my own lyrics. I’ve had male critics make comments that I get press coverage in San Diego by sucking dick — which is ridiculous, because I’m gay! But I also think being female helps me stand out in my genre. There aren’t many other white chicks that can spit it like I can.

Will you write me something?
Venus Zine, the dopest mag
I read you when I’m on the rag
Feminism’s my affliction
So I better get a fat subscription!

Read the article here.