Music in the kitchen

One question you see often in interviews with professional and celebrity chefs alike is if they listen to music in the kitchen and, if so, what. I have two distinct cooking playlists. If it is a professional gig and I am stressed to the nines about getting everything done, I tend to listen to classical as the soothing strains tend to make me less stressed. If it’s personal/family cooking, I usually listen to Celtic music or my faves playlist which is pretty heavy on the 80s cheese.

Since I can’t mail all my readers a Christmas goodies package, I’ve put together a little foodieporn inspired Mix Tape (boy, does that date me), a bakers’ dozen of musical goodness. Most of the songs should be available through iTunes music store or some such.

Victoria’s Foodieporn Holiday Playlist (in no particular order)

1. “One Cup of Coffee” — either the original by Bob Marley or the Damien Marley cover
A nice little ditty about trying to get out of signing the divorce papers over a cup of Joe.

2. “Autumngirlsoup” — Kirsty MacColl, may she rest in peace and find justice

3. “Milk Shake” — Kelis
I debated this one, but I have to admit that I do tend to turn it up when it cycles through the iPod.

4. “Lemon Pie” — The Floating Men
Sadly they have disbanded, but I used to attend their New Year’s Eve show at the Sandbar (also gone) in Chattanooga back in the day.

5. “Black Coffee in Bed” — Squeeze
There does seem to be a preponderance of songs about or with coffee in the title…

6. “Constant Craving” — k. d. lang
Ok, not about food… obviously not about food, but are any songs about food really about food?

7. “Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye” — the Casinos
Also not about food, but has the great line “sweeten my coffee/with a morning kiss.” It’s also on Keifel’s and my wedding mix CD

8. “Wildberry Pie” — David Wilcox
Very sentimental and slightly cheesy and a little bit dirty but sweet nonetheless

9. “Too Many Cooks in the Kitchen” — XTC
Just because any mix I put together invariably has an XTC song, ’cause I’m geeky that way.

10. “The Boar’s Head” — The Chieftains
It is, after all, a holiday mix and it’s Celtic to boot, so there.

11. “Sugarbush Cushman” — Poi Dog Pondering
A sweet little song about maple syrup and love

12. “Tupelo Honey” — Van Morrison
Because he is fabulous and the song has tea and honey in it and because, like XTC, any Victoria mix has to have some Van

13. “Cheeseburger in Paradise” — Jimmy Buffet
I know it’s the ultimate in cheese, and probably predictable, to boot, but the Jules suggested it and it does speak to the inner hedonist in us all, and even non-beef eating me gets a wild craving for a burger every now and then.