A December Playlist of Food

Follow my personal December Food Journal with songs for every restaurant and experience.

WEEK ONE: Musashi Japanese Restaurant

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To start off the month of December, my family celebrated my mother's birthday. We ordered the croquette (a Japanese style potato cake), agedashi tofu, grilled mackerel, and squid salad. Although we did end up ordering sushi later on, the stars of the meal were the appetizers. As mentioned in a previous post, the agedashi tofu is a standout. Its soft texture, lightly fried and crispy outside, and addictive ginger soy sauce keeps you coming back for more. The potato croquette had the best crunch and combined with the mayo sauce gave it a wonderful tang. The squid salad and grilled mackerel paired brilliantly together, marrying strong seafood flavors with a subtle, lighter flavor. Musashi always has the best Japanese food and aptly 'Music for a Sushi Restaurant' describes its fun environment and thrilling cuisine. I can already imagine listening along to the funky pop of this song, while you make a trip to Musashi, tasting its bold and comforting flavors.

WEEK TWO: Shake Shack

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As I was out for lunch with my younger sister, we made a quick stop at Shake Shack. Although the meal looks like an average sandwich and fries, something about its new spicy additions on the menu caught my eye. The spicy chicken sandwich with coleslaw and crispy chicken melted in my mouth. It had this intriguing spicy kick that I kept chasing after every bite. Their bacon and cheese fries, a classic, tasted perfect when sharing with my sister. I also recommend their spicy fries with ranch, coated with a dusting of spice mixture and paired brilliantly with the cooling ranch. 'Back on 74' matches the music in my mouth after every bite of the spicy chicken sandwich and the crispy fries. It's a song that makes you want to dance along, a feeling that carries on to my meal at Shake Shack.

WEEK THREE: Grandma's Food

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Christmas with my grandmother's cooking is always a sentimental experience. She usually cooks her staple bok choy and opo squash, alongside soy sauce pork chops and ginger soy fish. She went all out with the lobster and crab this time. Growing up with my grandma's cooking was one of my biggest inspirations for learning to appreciate food and even trying my own hand in the kitchen. Carrying on the traditions, recipes, and foods that have been passed down for generations has enhanced my understanding of my own culture. I chose the iconic 'chestnuts roasting on an open fire' to convey the coziness and warmth of enjoying food with family during the holidays.

WEEK THREE CONTINUED: Bonchon

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Spicy Chicken Bibimbap

While spending time with a friend during winter break, we ended up at Bonchon, a Korean restaurant. Pictured to the left is the Spicy Chicken Bibimbap. As an avid Korean food lover, their bibimbap was the perfect quick fix for my craving. The portion was plentiful, and I ended up saving most of it for my lunch the next day. The garlicky, tangy sweetness of the chicken combined with the assortment of vegetables and rice made the perfect meal for a cold, winter night. I chose 'Heartbreak Weather' for this meal because of its upbeat tone and its insistence of joy despite the weather outside. During winter I crave warm and hot meals, which the bibimbap was amazing for, seeing as how it's served in a sizzling, hot stone bowl. I also highly recommend their chicken, which is double fried, giving it the best crunch.

WEEK FOUR: Reid's Fine Foods Restaurant & Wine Bar

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Last but not least, my family took a casual lunch for my birthday at Reid's Fine Foods. Inside there were fridges and shelves stocked to the brim with ice cream, deli cheeses, and cans of soda. I ended up ordering their caprese sandwich, which made me think of an afternoon in a cafe, listening to smooth jazz while chattering with family. The sandwich was comforting and tasted of basil, pesto, and the smooth mozzarella cheese. I hope to go again to try out their other sandwich and wrap choices, as well as explore their numerous meats, cheeses, and desserts. The environment was so inviting and the enticing, locally sourced items made me want to go again. 'Dream a Little Dream' was the perfect song choice for this afternoon lunch, expressing the dreamy quality of breaking bread and chips at a cafe with family.

Thanks for reading my December Food Playlist! I hope you added a few more songs to your own playlist and continue to enjoy your foodie adventures. I loved doing this blog in particular, combining music with food, a way to express the intangible feelings associated with a good meal and even better company. I hope this post inspires you to appreciate the special moments shared with food and how even songs can be a part of your dining experience. As always, happy eating fellow foodies!