Singer-guitarist Marty Larkin, who blends music and cooking into a harmonious stew, wears a T-shirt declaring his epicurean philosophy: "If you can't stand the beat, get out of the kitchen!"
Larkin, known as the Rock & Roll Chef, has performed at Chicago nightclubs and at the opening of record stores and has done a cooking demonstration at Bloomingdale's department store."I think it's an excellent gimmick to cook and play rock 'n' roll the way he does it," said Tim Borden, who booked Larkin to play and cook potato soup for the 40th anniversary of Mr. Potato Head, a popular children's toy. The event was held at Chicago's Excalibur nightclub.
Larkin starts with a cooking demonstration. He hands out recipe cards for the dishes he prepares. Then he grabs his guitar and joins the nine-piece Rock & Roll Kitchen Revue in food songs such as "Tequila," "Poke Salad Annie," "Green Onions," "Watermelon Man" and "Grazin' in the Grass."
"My repertoire of recipes is not as great as my repertoire of songs," Larkin says.
Larkin learned to cook in the kitchen of a Nevada casino. His recipes are for down-home dishes like Steamroller Spaghetti or chili. When people see exotic ingredients or techniques, they're turned off, he says.