In Bologna no one listened to music with headphones. Not when students were walking alone, or when commuters were taking the bus; not when single people were doing their late-night grocery shopping, or when you’d see a dog-owner taking their pet for a walk. I suppose I'm trying to emanate that. Mostly because I think it shows a certain security in just being with yourself and it seems to welcome social interaction in a more impromptu and communal way. This is not to say that before Bologna I was plugged in all of the time, but I think I did hide – to some extent – in individual music-listening. How does this relate to food you might be wondering, well, the other day, I was listening to a spotify-generated playlist based on my musical preferences and a song called “Green Onions” by Booker T and the M.G.s came on. If you heard it, you’d know the one.

I’m taking a Food Anthropology/Archeology class this semester, and I’ve never realized how passionate most people are about food; This fire inside of people is most likely attributable to the human need to eat, and all of our human engagement with food being profoundly personal. But wow, it’s kind of amazing. Then I was thinking, music, another widely appreciated, widely shared, widely engaged medium of culture, the people who make that stuff have to eat too, what do they think of food? Well… Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass create this auditory image of Green Peppers, Whipped Cream, and Ladyfingers, and kind of hit the nail on the head every time – the pliability of “Ladyfinger”, boyish indifference I found in the song “Green Pepper”, and the blunt playfulness of “Whipped Cream” are all encapsulated in Herb’s songs (first name basis?! Whaaat??).

Beckles and I made at least two dinners for our loved ones of Bologna; both dinners were most likely DJ’d by George – perhaps my favorite DJ, known for her disco-y choices and disdain for people who play their indie picks in a group setting. At the first dinner there was handmade gnocchi with some kind of delicious sausage zucchini tomato ragu that Beck made and then a spring-y pea and bean salad with parm and walnuts that I made, bread from my favorite bakery in Bologna, Il Forno di Calzolari, and lots of wine. The second, two whole grilled fish, some squid, zukes, chimichurri, and Busiate with burst yellow tomatoes and Colatura. The first dinner ended in talking and laughing, and an eventual bike ride to Cortile Cafe (one of our favorite spots for live music). One of my favorite photos was captured that night: 

So naturally I started a deep dive on songs about food. Some favorites include: “Ham ‘N’ Eggs” by A Tribe Called Quest, “Chicken Fried" by Zac Brown Band, “The Banana Boat Song" by Harry Belefonte (kinda cheating…more about the labor of banana production than eating actual bananas, but close enough?) and then today, I discovered an album by Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass called Whipped Cream & Other Delights. While there are other Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass songs I like better than most on this album (“This Guy’s In Love With You," for instance), this album really hits right on what I was searching for.

Music is so so so integral to the eating experience; The first restaurant I ever worked at, Hart’s, had the best music – ranged from JT to Steely Dan to Darondo; the eating experience in there was always delightful. I have countless playlists for dinner time that I made with the very intention of striking that balance between the focus on food and the enjoyment of the environment you’re in – because when that balance is struck, ooooooh boy, that’s a good night.

The second night ended with our dancing together in what we called “Dario’s Place” (not pictured, but the airbnb we stayed at in this magical Sicilian town). We eventually found ourselves on the roof of Dario’s, shimmying, laughing, looking over the sleepiness of San Vito Lo Capo in May. I remember dancing so much my feet were sore the next day. All to say that both of these nights culminated in the enjoyment of food, dancing, and listening to music – so they must be connected, right? In the same way that food can situate you exactly where you want to be, allow you to take a moment, enjoy yourself, appreciate the ones you are with, so can music ... I can’t transport back, but for now I will give Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass’ Whipped Cream & Other Delights another chance.