Late Summer: Food & Music

In this issue of edible, we explore relationships between food and music. From the tapas at local flamenco shows to the dramatic cuisine of Santa Fe Opera tailgates to the food that fuels local songwriters, we delve into the auditory ingredients of gustatory delight. To the talented chefs, dancers, mixologists, and musicians who perform for us in the Land of Enchantment, we say, bravo!

During a recent Supper Club event at the picturesque Casa Rondeña Winery, dinner table conversation turned—as it often does for us at edible—to food production. Familiar discussions on soil fertility and recent weather activity came to a halt, however, when an otherwise quiet gentleman named Boone offered the secret to success for his family’s cattle farm: “We played Mozart to the cows all day.”

As it turns out, playing music for livestock is a fairly common practice. Studies have shown that certain genres, especially classical, when played at a consistent volume, can calm herds, encourage preferable behavioral changes, such as self-herding, and increase milk production in dairy cows. Similarly, a few researchers have claimed (albeit, controversially) a correlation between the vibrations in sound waves and plant growth, prompting some vegetable farmers to serenade their fields with Chopin. Perhaps it is not so outlandish that music, the “universal language of mankind,” according to Longfellow, may, in fact, be the universal language of all living things.

In this issue of edible, we explore relationships between food and music. From the tapas at local flamenco shows to the dramatic cuisine of Santa Fe Opera tailgates to the food that fuels local songwriters, we delve into the auditory ingredients of gustatory delight.

Like music, food provides a powerful form of visceral communication. Both have the ability to tell a story, bridge cultural divides, and nourish our bodies and minds. As any restaurant owner or dinner party host will likely tell you, a well-curated menu and soundtrack can create the perfect multisensory experience. Though tastes in music and food may vary from person to person—or from animal to vegetable—the pleasure derived from a soothing melody and a savory meal speaks to us all. To the talented chefs, dancers, mixologists, and musicians who perform for us in the Land of Enchantment, we say, bravo!