Picture an artist in their studio. It’s the wee hours, music pumping through a portable speaker, the floor is a crime scene, and the artist is deep in a creative flow.
Food and beverage rarely enter the picture (other than the symbolic wine bottle or two) when we envision this scene. But artists can’t live on inspiration alone. That’s why CULTURED’s food editor, Mina Stone, asked more than two dozen artists to identify the fare they cannot do without. Sometimes, nibbling is the name of the game; other times, it’s a matter of diversion or nostalgia for home.
“I’m thinking about what we ate on our worst days growing up… It’s gotta be rice. It’s one of the foundations for both of my cultures: Black American and Japanese. It will fill you up. You can finesse a little gravy to make it cute, or you can go straight Japanese and pull up with the natto (fermented sticky beans)!” —Aya Brown
“Listed in order of importance: Garlic, nuts (specifically macadamia), sweet potatoes, Brussels sprouts, spinach.” —Brock Enright
“It would have to be a good diner breakfast. Eggs, bacon, hash browns, blueberry pancakes, toasted English muffin (with butter and jam), orange juice, water, and an iced espresso.”—Chase Hall
“Black coffee. Can’t live without it!”—Katherina Olschbaur
“I can’t live without the ‘Welcome to Miami’ smoothie from Pura Vida Miami in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The passionfruit, mango, and banana mix reminds me of a warm day with family in the 305.”—Naudline Pierre
“Water. Does that count?”—N. Dash
“Halloumi cheese.”—Lizzi Bougatsos
“1. Homemade fish and chips, my go-to comfort food. 2. Homemade cashew milk, which is actually cashew cream because I use three cups instead of four cups of water.” —Adam Pendleton
“Chicken thighs—always grilled! And marinated all day with whatever I find.” —Urs Fischer
“Celery—just the simplest, deepest flavor.” —Spencer Sweeney
“Avocados! It’s been almost three years since I started cooking vegetarian at home, and I’m loving the challenge. Figuring out how to make tasty dishes without meat is a fun little puzzle. I’m totally hooked on all the new vegan products; they’re the highlight of my grocery trips.” —Mamali Shafahi
“Peruvian ceviche.” —Rose Salane
“Asparagus.”— Joey Frank
“Sunflower seeds. They remind me of growing up in Washington, DC. Eating them was a daily ritual in my neighborhood and school. I’ve carried that memory into my artwork, using sunflower seeds as a symbol of home, survival, and shared experience. They speak to the resourcefulness of inner-city life, where even the smallest things hold meaning.” —Emmanuel Massillon
“Cabbage.” —Calvin Marcus
“Bread!” —Julia Chiang
“I love Caesar salad! It’s got all my favorite stuff. Anchovies! Parmesan! Crunchy, garlicky croutons! Dijon mustard! Lemon! Romaine! OMG! Otherwise, an orange—the smell as you peel it, sometimes a little spray. I always leave the peel around for a few hours afterward. Perfect air freshener.” —Rob Pruitt
“Cheese!” —Kaws
“Spaghetti bolognese. It’s my ultimate favorite food, and it’s the easiest thing to reheat when you’re pressed for time in the studio.” —Qualeasha Wood
“Eggs, smoothies, and cheese. Not together.” —Elizabeth Jaeger
“Kimchi. I like using ground-up kimchi seasoning to sprinkle on scrambled eggs or spaghetti.” —Anicka Yi
“Family-wise, it has to be chicken nuggets—like, we wouldn’t be okay [without them].” —Ruby Sky Stiler and Daniel Gordon
“Raspberries!” —Rosy Keyser
“Sunflower seeds.” —Kon Trubkovich
“I like me a Dominican breakfast. There’s a dish called Mangú that gives your brain power and dick power (my grandma said that). You’ll start hitting home runs like Sammy Sosa.” —Armando Nin
“Vitello Tonnato. Easy.” —Zak Kitnick
“Ice cream.” —Madeline Donahue
“Grits are essential, as is my local sourwood honey from the Blue Ridge Mountains. Also, banana pudding.” —Verne Dawson
“Coffee. I dream about it the night before.” —Sam Moyer
“Orecchiette pasta with peas and sausage. It’s my go-to comfort meal any time of the year (because frozen peas are great). Otherwise, the spicy tuna hand roll from Sushi Gen in LA.” —Adam Alessi
“I can’t live without fruit. I like all of it, even bananas. In the summer, I obsess over finding the perfect juicy cantaloupe.” —Jenna Gribbon
“White rice. Rice is life!” —Josh Kline
“Sheep’s milk yogurt. Call me baah-ring.” —Cassandra MacLeod
“Cazuela, a Chilean chicken or beef soup. Who doesn’t like hearty wholesome food the way grandma used to make it?” —Ernesto Burgos
“Greek yogurt.” —Kirsten Deirup
“Fish soup.” —Alex Eagleton
“Diri Djon Djon, AKA black mushroom rice. A classic Haitian dish.” —Emmanuel Louisnord Desir
“Nuts.” —Marianne Vitale
“Capers and tomatoes.” —Ben Wolf Noam
“Absolutely Tarte Tatin!” —Sarah Crowner
in your life?
