The Soundtrack to Eating: Famous Chefs and their Favorite Songs
You can’t attempt Gordon Ramsay’s Beef Wellington without a song that makes you feel like he’s calling you an idiot sandwich.
The Soundtrack to Eating is a series in which staff writers analyze how food and music are intertwined.
Written by Srija Reddy
Illustrated by Mark Yoder
Just like the music world, the culinary scene is filled with its own superstars. Through their experiments with flavor and technique, these culinary artists have innovated our relationship to cuisine. To celebrate their impact, we’ve picked a song that embodies the quintessential quirks of each chef. Feel free to sing along while you practice your sous chef skills.
Christina Tosi: “Good Day” by Surfaces
Photo courtesy of Milk Bar
From her Compost Cookies to her cereal milk soft serve, Christina Tosi is masterful in transforming nostalgic childhood flavors into groundbreaking desserts. Her whimsical creations constantly challenge baking conventions, and her lighthearted attitude is matched best by the energy of pop duo Surfaces. Like a piece of crack pie, any Surface song has the power to bring a smile to your face. In particular, “Good Day” touches on the memories that Tosi draws from: those lazy summer days when your biggest worry was eating your chocolate-dipped ice cream cone before it melted all over your hands. And like the lyrics, “Doin’ whatever we like, our way,” Tosi has helped baking novices realize that baking something as simple as a cookie is an opportunity to experiment with whatever’s in our pantry. So grab your apron, turn the oven on to 350 degrees, and listen to “Good Day” on repeat while upgrading your quarantine bakes from that basic banana bread.
Gordon Ramsay: “Paint It, Black” by The Rolling Stones
Photo courtesy of The National
Only one word comes to mind when thinking about Gordon Ramsay: intense. This characteristic has served him well, considering Ramsay currently has as many Michelin stars as forehead creases (seven to be exact). Additionally, Ramsay’s accolades are spotlighted by his stardom from shows like “Kitchen Nightmares,” “Hell’s Kitchen,” “Hotel Hell,” and “MasterChef US.” Rolling Stones’ “Paint It, Black” captures his fiery personality perfectly. Similar to the British invasion of the Rolling Stones, Ramsay has become one of the most well known culinary faces in America. Like the fast tempo of the song, Ramsay relies on creating a speedy and efficient kitchen in fostering his success. And as Mick Jagger screams, “I look inside myself and see my heart is black,” one can only imagine that this is what the trail of scorned faces spurred by Ramsay thinks of him. So if you dare, blast “Paint it, Black” and pray that you don’t overcook the chicken.
Claire Saffitz: “Overthinking IT” by Willow
Photo courtesy of Bon Appétit
If you’ve ever felt the urge to make your own Gushers, you can thank Claire Saffitz from the Bon Appétit test kitchen for painstakingly reverse engineering the sweet snack so you didn’t have to. Star of Youtube series “Gourmet Makes,” Saffitz’s endearing perfectionist personality has made millions love her. By recreating popular snack foods like Doritos, Pop-Tarts, and Starburst, she has built an online community of Saffitz enthusiasts who are choosing to make over buy. While she starts out optimistic at the beginning of each video, she slowly becomes distraught as she tackles complicated recipes with the help of her fellow editors. This energy is matched in “Overthinking IT” by Willow Smith — a song where Willow’s voice morphs harmonious sighs into powerful wails. The track’s dominant drums match the staccato sounds that accentuate Saffitz’s actions in each video. If you would also DFCFTBATK (Die For Claire From The Bon Appétit Test Kitchen), then vibe with her chaotic energy in Willow’s “Overthinking IT.”
Roy Choi: “Savage Love” by Jawsh 685, Jason Derulo, and BTS
Photo courtesy of The Container Yard
You can thank Roy Choi for that intense salivation that accompanies the words “Korean BBQ.” In founding his gourmet food truck Kogi, Choi elevates the roach-coach food truck stereotype while also spotlighting Korean-Mexican fusion cuisine. In his food, Choi touches on the duality of his Korean heritage and experience growing up as an immigrant in L.A in the 1970s. Just like Choi’s food, the new “Savage Love” remix harmoniously unites two unlike backgrounds. In this song, Jason Derulo and BTS collaborate to create a unique dance floor bop. And like their “savage love,” you may find a love-hate relationship between Korean BBQ and your stomach.
These four chefs are only a scratch into the culinary world, and hopefully, the sounds inspired by them also influence you to amp up your kitchen game. Who knows — someday, someone may say “Yes, chef!” to you.