A Musical Menu

Food pairings are all the rage.

Food and Beer, Food and Wine, Food and Cocktails, and most recently Food & Music. I thought I’d share some of my favorite food-themed songs to create a unique sonic menu that could be served at the dinner table or go in your car or on your iPod.

In 2004, mysterious rapper MF Doom released a food-theme album called Mm… Food on the Minneapolis-based label Rhymesayers. Track titles include “One Beer”, “Kon Queso”, “Fig-Leaf Bi-Carbonate”, and “Kookies.” My favorite is “Kon Karne.”

For those hot summer days, you can’t go wrong with Wu Tang Clan’s “Ice Cream.” The track features a variety of ‘flavors’ like “French-vanilla, butter-pecan, chocolate-deluxe, even caramel sundaes…”

Speaking of wine pairings, you have to go with a little red wine. “Red Red Wine” by UB40 to be exact.

Then for those, who love it a little spicy like me, try Kelis’ new ‘dish’ “Jerk Ribs”, which you can find on her new album Food. Too spicy? You can wash it down with her classic “Milkshake”.

I can’t forget some southern classics like “Cornbread, Fish & Collard Greens” by “Chef” Anthony Hamilton, and for dessert Domino’s “Sweet Potato Pie.”

Then finally, you need to serve some fresh “Coffee” from the new duo Sylvan Esso. Make sure you have some “Cream” from Prince.

I hope this tasty playlist whets your appetite for more music and 88Nine RadioMilwaukee’s annual food and music pairing event, Soundbites, that will be held April 3, 2014 at the Iron Horse Hotel.

Visit http://radiomilwaukee.org/soundbites for all the details.