With a recipe to tantalize your taste buds on page (?), I figured I’d give you some tunes to inspire your inner chef. These food-focused jingles are sure to give you the munchies and leave you longing for a scrumptious meal, or three. So make sure you’ve got some quality cuisine within arms reach, or you’ll be dialing the local pizza joint by the third song.
“I Will Play For Gumbo” by Jimmy Buffett
Although the more obvious pick was “Cheeseburger in Paradise,” my recent trip to New Orleans has left me hankerin’ for some sweet ‘n’ spicy, home-cooked Gumbo. If you’ve ever had quality New Orleans-style grub, you’re mouth will be watering by the end of this swanky tune. The accordion sets the mood as Buffett sings, “Good for the body/ Good for the soul/ It’s a little like religion/ And a lot like sex/ You should never know/ When you’re gonna get it next.” Please tell me if you have a good recipe.
“I Got The Munchies” by Kottonmouth Kings
This song is a grocery list for the highest type of consumption. Three of the five Kings detail their plans for consumption, listing mostly gas station junk foods like “barbecue chips and plenty of refreshments/ Gummy bears, microwaveables, mini thin mints/ Ice cream, beef jerky, and candy bars.” But the 7-Eleven is not their only stop. They stop at Del Taco to get a number four with no sauce, extra cheese and a chicken quesadilla. They are sure to include their dessert dilemma between Dairy Queen, Marie Calendars or Baskin Robins. It is amazing how insatiable their appetite is, but I don’t think we’d have to ask why.
“Amore” by Dean Martin
Mr. Martin strums on my heart strings with this song. His smooth, deep voice serenades me into dreams of dripping cheese and spiced tomato sauce. I feel like we really understand each other when he starts in on the chorus. “When the moon hits your eye/ Like a big-a pizza pie/ That’s amore/ When the world seems to shine/ Like you’ve had too much wine/ That’s amore.” You simply shouldn’t cook, or eat, Italian food without listening to this song. Or at least belting it out obnoxiously.
“Milk and Cereal” by G. Love & Special Sauce
Ridiculous and catchy, this song gets stuck in my head for days. I find myself singing it out loud unconsciously, to which my friends respond with “What the eff are you singing?” The majority of this ditty consists of the harmonious duo singing-simple lyrics in rounds as an ode to the standard, yet always delicious, milk and cereal. “In the morning/ At your table/ Milk and Cereal/ Cereal and Milk/ Milk and Cereal/ Cereal and Milk.” A slew of moderately entertaining YouTube videos fans have made sure to waste more than a few minutes of your time before you grab your bowl and spoon.
“Cadillac Don” by Peanut Butter And Jelly Ft. J Money
OK, I’ll be honest, this song really doesn’t have much to do with food. But I listened to it half the time I was making this list and thought you might enjoy getting down to it while spreading some PB&J or making any food, really. Maybe it will even get you pumped enough to “roll through the hood” and down to the grocery store with a new recipe in mind.