From reggaeton to Swedish death metal, music fuels the glory (and drudgery) of the chef's day-to-day existence . Kitchen Radio explores this special relationship by asking a culinary pro to talk less about stock and more about rock. Here, we chat with Bloomingdale Road chef Ed Witt.
What was your first concert?
I grew up pretty sheltered, so I couldn't listen to rock music until I was in junior high. Ratt and Poison was my first show [laughing]. I think I bought a band shirt. It wasn't that crazy.
So how did you get involved with the hardcore scene?
When I moved to San Francisco, I met a bunch of guys who were into New York hardcore. But now I am more into punk than hardcore. But real punk, not the stuff you hear on the radio. My favorite band is U.S. Bombs. I also like The Disasters, who used to be Agnostic Front. I broke my ribs at CBs watching them.
Ouch...
When I moved back to New York in 1998, the hardcore scene was still going strong-I used to line up around the corner for those Sunday matinees at CB's, to watch bands like Madball and H2O. So it's fair to say that I have been to my share of shows—I once split my head open and [Agnostic Front frontman] Roger Miret put me in a cab to go to the hospital.
And you broke your ribs?
I cracked my ribs more recently, a month before the club closed. I did a one-and-a-half [dive] off the stage and landed on the floor. There was a crunch sound that I thought was somebody's leg underneath me. But it was my ribs. At the time I was in-between jobs, so it was fine.
Are you ever worried that you're going to break your hand?
I'm a little more conscious now. I have to be a bit more photogenic, so walking in with stitches in my head wouldn't so good.
That would actually be a nice change from all the chefs and their perfect hair
Well, I shaved the perfect hair off a while ago when I tattooed the crap out of my head.
What music do you play in the restaurant?
We have iPods, and I just gave one of the managing partners some of my CDs to put on the mix. We are open late, so we get more aggressive as the night goes on. Tim Armstrong and Mike Ness will probably be on there.
What do you play on the kitchen radio?
If we have a ton of prep to do, we will play the hardcore stuff like Sick Of It All or RazorBlade HandGrenade. Hardcore is inspirational. It's focused aggression, which helps you stay on task.
What are some of your dishes inspired by hardcore?
I do a chef's table here, which is basically whatever I feel like doing and how I feel like doing it. It can be anything from pig's head to necks and hearts. All the stuff I like to cook: sunflower seed-crusted oysters with sunchoke puree and cranberry brown butter; lamb's head salad with crispy brains, cheek and tongue; duck fat poached mackerel with celery root and tarragon. People have many preconceived notions about the negativity of eating a lamb's head-as well as hardcore music. Both are positive experiences.
Photo by Melissa Hom
