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February 1, 2006

I Like Food, Food Tastes Good: The Indie Rock Cookbook

When reader John sent in a tip about a new "Indie Rock Cookbook", he predicted "lots of omlettes and brownies". I guessed more than one band would be disappointed to find out Ice Cream Soup was taken already. In reality, the recipies run the scale from simple to complex, and come from bands including Belle & Sebastian, Superchunk, Death Cab for Cutie (PB & veggie sausage sandwich), the Decemberists, the Violent Femmes (Brian Ritchie makes a mean Wild Boar Ragu), NOFX, the Walkmen, My Morning Jacket ("the You Can Care If You Wanna Sandwich") and a million other bands you liked before they were big. Even Grandaddy had time to get one off before they broke up eroded!

Author Kara Zuaro was testing deserts when I stopped by, so I only go to try three dishes, and she wouldn't let me copy down any recipies, either, since the book won't be out for another year.

Desserts from Okkervil River, Smoosh, and Devendra Banhart (shot by Roger Kisby)

Ok, I did copy a line from Devendra Banhart's exclamation point-packed recipe Africanitas Ricas (fancy fried bananas):

"now, chop the beautyful godsends (the bananas) into the size of 8 quarters glued together, do this with all the beautyfulll godsends"
You should see the part where he tries to capture the joy of eating them in eight lines of keyboard-mashing.

RELATED: Yes, Stereogum hearts The Jenville Show too!

MP3s, reviews, and the story behind the cookbook after the jump.

Devendra Banhart - "At The Hop" (MP3 Link Expired)

After Devendra's tasty fried bananas, I also tried Smoosh's favorite desert, an excellent Swedish thing called Varldens Basta Pannkaka. It's a Dutch Baby-like custard-y cake, and (ballpark) the name means "World's Best Pancake". I think.

Smoosh - "It's Not Your Day To Shine" (MP3 Link Expired)

Smoosh is obviously a little young to roam loose in the kitchen, so it's ok if they're sending in grandma's recipe. Okkervil River has no excuse for sending in grandma's recipe for Buttermilk Pie, except for the fact that it's fucking amazing. It makes cheesecake seem light.

Okkervil River - "Black" (MP3 Link Expired)

Kara Zuaro, author (shot by Roger Kisby)

According to Kara, the whole thing got started during a conversation with Aloha, when they begged off chatting on account of painfully empty stomachs. Kara, a freelance writer, got in the habit of cooking meals for touring indie bands her boyfriend's label brought her in contact with. Discovering that talking about food with road-weary musicians was a great way to break the ice for her freelance interviews, Kara started saving the recipies. When her roommate, a newly-promoted literary agent, started talking about the book, she got enough interest that it practically sold itself. Kara's only got around 70 of the 100 recipes she wants, though, so if you know any bands with good recipes, send her an email at indie.rock.cookbook@gmail.com.

(Photo credit goes to Roger Kisby)

Posted at 12:40 AM in
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27 Comments

The Jenville Show already was kinda doing this.

The Jenville Show

Posted by: nancydrew77 at 02/01/06 1:03 AM | Reply
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So we can discuss Devendra Banhart cooking recipes and not his spot in the sexy Bonnaroo lineup?

Radiohead, Beck, Tom Petty, My Morning Jacket, Cat Power, Stephen Malkmus, Bright Eyes, Devendra, Ben Folds, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Death Cab, Dungen, Dr. John, Dresden Dolls, supposedly some jam bands, and Blues Traveler.

I think I'd rather save my money and gas for this instead of Coachella.

http://billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001921757

Posted by: Edwin at 02/01/06 1:08 AM | Reply
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and I'll be damned if I didn't mention Elvis Costello.

Posted by: Edwin at 02/01/06 1:10 AM | Reply
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The Jenville Show already was kinda doing this.

http://www.thejenvilleshow.com/

Posted by: nancydrew77 at 02/01/06 1:16 AM | Reply
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Okay, now if I could just scroll down...

Posted by: Edwin at 02/01/06 1:20 AM | Reply
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Bonnaroo lineup discussion's over here, Edwin:

http://www.stereogum.com/archives/002278.html

nancydrew- shit, I had no idea.

Posted by: jim at 02/01/06 1:26 AM | Reply
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off topic, but holy shit, broken social scene was sooo great on conan tonight

Posted by: scarlett at 02/01/06 1:38 AM | Reply
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I am proud to be one of the seven people on the planet who knows what the headline for this refers to.

Posted by: LL Cool F at 02/01/06 8:44 AM | Reply
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I wonder if The Descendents will do an introduction or epilogue or something? They should do.

Posted by: daniel at 02/01/06 9:06 AM | Reply
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I should probably mention that "I Like Food, Food Tastes Good" is actually the title of the book. and it is awesome.

Posted by: jim at 02/01/06 10:39 AM | Reply
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Jim, I told you about Jenville! Or I thought I did. Let's give it some related linkage.

Posted by: scott at 02/01/06 11:54 AM | Reply
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NOFX as an indie rock band?

Posted by: sam at 02/01/06 12:03 PM | Reply
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Will there be recipes for juicy burgers,
greasy fries, turkey legs, and raw fish eyes? What about teenage girls, with ketchup too?
I hope so.

Posted by: LL Cool F at 02/01/06 12:35 PM | Reply
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Kara is welcome to cook me dinner any time. I'm starting my band today.

Posted by: omit at 02/01/06 12:48 PM | Reply
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oh, i forgot NOFX is too fast to be indie.

Posted by: jim at 02/01/06 12:51 PM | Reply
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i am cool too.

"juicy burgers, greasy fried, turkey legs and raw fish eyes, teenage girls with ketchup too, get outta my way or i'll eat you...."

Posted by: richard at 02/01/06 12:57 PM | Reply
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MMMMMMM! I can't wait for The Decemberists "Chimbley Sweep Style" Shepard’s pie, or the various Victorian literary references that will undoubtedly pepper the recipe! I just vomited a little in my mouth from this whole concept.

Posted by: P.S at 02/01/06 12:58 PM | Reply
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damn - LL beat me to it...

Posted by: richard at 02/01/06 1:03 PM | Reply
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I would send in my recipe for urine basted prepubescent girls lightly sprinkled with sifted cocaine (much better than saffron), but I don't think I'm indie enough.

Posted by: R Kelly at 02/01/06 2:02 PM | Reply
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I am proud to be one of the seven people on the planet who knows what the headline for this refers to.

I'm glad somebody...er, one of the other six people said it before I did.

Posted by: Ben at 02/01/06 2:46 PM | Reply
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When is Aloha *not* hungry?

Posted by: peel at 02/01/06 3:08 PM | Reply
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HAHHAHAHAHAHAHA

Oh, R Kelly, you so crazy.

Posted by: rohallma at 02/01/06 5:10 PM | Reply
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I liked the little nod you got on the "Best Week Ever" blog
http://bestweekever.blogs.com/best_week_ever_blog/2006/02/listen_up_your_.html

Posted by: Secretlayer at 02/01/06 7:20 PM | Reply
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wow, this was utterly retarded.

Posted by: james at 02/01/06 9:54 PM | Reply
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Go Irish!

Posted by: fairest at 02/02/06 4:22 PM | Reply
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HAHAHAH wow i hate devendra banhart. if you're gonna talk in metaphors at least spell the damn things right.

Posted by: b at 02/02/06 9:03 PM | Reply
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Holy shit, I need so much more information about this book. Please update when appropriate, thanks. *rubs stomach*

Posted by: Diana at 02/02/06 9:58 PM | Reply
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