My Music At Work is a series that asks people in a variety of creative professions to tell us what music provides the soundtrack for their creativity.
Here, Canadian celebrity chefs Bob Blumer and David Rocco, who will both headline this weekend's EAT Vancouver culinary festival, tell us the top five songs you would hear in their kitchens, and Blumer discusses the time a Canadian rock icon cleaned up his mess.
Q: What songs inspire you to cook? If we walked into your kitchen while you were prepping a feast, what might be playing?
Bob Blumer: Cooking and music both bring me to my "happy place." When I walk into my kitchen, and stand in front of my butcher's block, I feel like the world is my oyster rockerfeller. I like to up the ante by playing songs that are infectiously optimistic.
Here are my current top five tracks:
Headless Heroes, "Just Like Honey."
First Aid Kit, "Emmylou."
Frightened Rabbit, "Swim Until You Can't See Land."
Fran Healy, "Sing Me to Sleep."
Jonsi, "Sinking Friendships."
David Rocco:
Neil Diamond, "Sweet Caroline": I love to sing to my food, and this is my karaoke favourite!
The Rolling Stones, "Start Me Up": Because I have moves like Jagger in the kitchen!
Johnny Cash, "Ring of Fire": Because every playlist needs a little Johnny.
Prince, "Kiss."
Michael Jackson, "Smooth Criminal."
Q: If you could prepare a meal for one Canadian musician, who would it be, what would you serve and why?
Blumer: Several years ago I cooked dinner for the Tragically Hip at a private house in Santa Fe, New Mexico, the night before they opened for the Rolling Stones. After dinner Gord Downie rolled up his sleeves and did all the dishes. We still laugh about it every time I see him. That's a pretty tough act to follow.
Rocco: I'd like to make a big Italian Sunday pranzo with Broken Social Scene. They're a big family of musicians and I'd like to have them help out to see what they bring to the table. They're all so creative, I'm sure we'd make a memorable meal.
Related:
The Tragically Hip's CBC Music artist page
Broken Social Scene's CBC Music artist page
Check out some of David Rocco's recipes
What are your favourite culinary songs? Let us know in the comments below.