Because food and music are equally paramount in our world, we invite an Empty Bottle artist to join forces with Bite Café every month — the result is a one-night-only special item to be served on the night of their show.

This month, we invited the most got dang kawaii band in the freaking universe to curate a dish for us. The result is CHAI’s Walking Star Sticky Ribs: marinated spare pork ribs with black garlic shoyu, sambal, sesame, and apricot mostarda. Read on to learn about their musical and culinary inspirations. (Limited tickets to their sold out Empty Bottle gig on January 25 will be available at the door.)

Tell us a bit about yourselves!
MANA: We are an all-female 4-member group with a set of twins, myself and KANA, along with YUUKI and YUNA! 
KANA: From Japan you know!
YUUKI: Something you’ve never seen before, something you’ve never heard before, something you never felt before!  That’s what we’re going to show you!
YUNA: We’re going to win a Grammy!

Tell us why you chose these specific inspirations for your Bottle Bites dish.
YUNA: Meat is our source of power overall!  As a band we eat all kinds of meats to fuel our work ethic.
MANA: It’s when we eat meat that are true voices come out.
YUUKI: Thank you, meat!  We never waste a thing!  We eat every piece on the plate.

If you could invite five people – living or dead – to your dream dinner party, who would be on the guest list?  What would ya’ll eat?
MANA: Mom, Dad, OH!  That’s 2 people already sorry!
KANA: (in response to MANA) Should we not choose family then?
MANA: (in response to KANA) No family???!!!
YUUKI: All of our parents and Michael Jackson!
YUNA: That’s a total of 7 people!  That’s 2 people too many, oops!
MANA: Oh!  I also want to invite my dog Roy!

What’s your go-to meal on tour?
YUNA: Thai food!
YUUKI: We always eat Thai food!  Love Pad Thai!
KANA: Green Curry too!  Oh and Papaya Salad of course.
MANA: For Japanese food, it’s definitely Japanese BBQ (Yakiniku!)

Because food and music are equally paramount in our world, we invite an Empty Bottle band to join forces with Bite Café every month — the result is a one-night-only special item to be served on the night of their show.

This month, we invited the fuzzy and depressive, expressive and expansive homies of Cloakroom into our kitchen, and they emerged with Meatless Star Poutine, a vegan Mexican poutine with chorizo spiced beans, pico de gallo, guacamole, and cilantro. Read on to learn about their musical and culinary inspirations. (And don't forget to snag tickets to their December 22 EB gig!)

Tell us a bit about yourselves!

We are a three-piece rock outfit from the Region

Tell us why you chose these specific inspirations for your Bottle Bites dish.

I think we tend to seek out Mexican cuisine a lot on the road, but we really love when we can find vegetarian-friendly poutine. Being vegan, the options are super limited, so anytime vegan poutine is offered I go for it.

If you could invite five people—living or dead—to your dream dinner party, who would be on the guest list? What would y'all eat?

Stanley Kubrick, Marcus Eoin and Mike Sandison (of Boards Of Canada fame), Kyle Larson, and Steph Curry. All experts in their respective fields, the conversations would be deep and educational. I would serve a cheezy pine-nut seitan roast, smashed red potatoes with mushroom gravy, mac & cheeze, and greens.  

What's your go-to tour meal?

I would say I consistently eat burritos and falafel, but any time I can get some out of the ordinary vegan cuisine Im game!

Try Bite Café's Meatless Star Poutine for yourself on Sunday, December 22, in celebration of Cloakroom's descent upon Empty Bottle. Tickets are available here.

Each month, a band on the EB calendar will be invited to curate their own Bite Café special to be served on the night of their show. This month, we invited proto-new wave legend Gary Wilson into our kitchen (and our hearts 🖤) . Read on to learn what he cooked up for y'all!

Tell us a bit about yourself!

I am Gary Wilson born in the town of Endicott, New York, in 1953. I self-recorded my album You Think You Really Know Me at my parents' home in Endicott.  Composer John Cage invited me to his home in Haverstraw, New York, when I was 15 years old. We went over my avant garde classical scores. I was invited by Questlove of The Roots to appear on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon and Earl Sweatshirt of Odd Future invited me to appear with him on The Jimmy Kimmel Show. I have released my last 6 albums on Cleopatra Records, with my latest called The King Of Endicott. 

Tell us about your Bottle Bites dish…

My mother was Italian and my father was English. My mother would have to strain her sauce for me. I'm sort of a plain guy — I don't eat vegetables and fruits and very rarely drink regular water. I mostly drink a two-liter bottle of regular Coke every day. My sauce is basic but the secret is the sweet Italian sausage (not broken up) and letting it simmer for at least 3 to 4 hours. Plain cheese burgers are also my favorite food.  

If you could invite five people—living or dead—to your dream dinner party, who would be on the guest list? What would y’all eat? 

I would invite John Cage, Allen Ginsburg, Frank Zappa, Dion and Barbara Steele for dinner. We would have my cheese ravioli and sauce and plenty of cheese and soda pop with my favorite movie playing (A Summer Place with Sandra Dee and Troy Donahue).

What’s your go-to tour meal? 

My favorite place to stop on tour is McDonald's for a few plain cheese burgers. I did two tours in Europe and McDonald's saved me.   

Try Bite Café's 6.4 = A Dinner Out (bucatini with veal meatballs, Sunday gravy, and grana padano) for yourself on Tuesday, July 30, in celebration of Part Time and Gary Wilson's Bottle gig!