Melbourne based Twelve Foot Ninja have gone from strength to strength since the release of their critically acclaimed debut album Silent Machine in late 2012, recently breaking a world record for the highest amount for a crowd funded music video. While the massive production for said video is currently underway, Twelve Foot Ninja are currently on the road playing their new single ‘Shuriken’ and more across the nations capitals and everywhere in between.
So we thought it might be good time to have a chat with Stevic from the band and find out what Aussie venues he likes to eat at, who he would like to have over for a dinner party and what his signature dish is…..
What were your food influences when you were growing up and what kind of food did you eat at home or with your family?
I don’t think I was particularly interested in food growing up. I remember using my lunch money to buy Batman cards and making my own vegemite sandwiches. Mum is a good cook and Dad used to run a seafood shop so I always had exposure to good food. Especially seafood.
Where’s your favourite music venue to eat in Australia and why?
Tough question! The Espy, The Corner and The Tempo Hotel immediately come to mind. Well-prepared food and good proportions.
How healthy was your diet in the studio throughout the recording of your new album ‘Silent Machine’?
Not really that healthy! A lot of toast, yoghurt, beer and pizza!
What type of food do you make sure to avoid before a gig or going on stage?
Probably anything really heavy and full of carbohydrates, spicy, shitty bay-marie stuff, human flesh etc
If you were throwing a dinner party and could invite any musicians, living or dead, who would they be and why?
I probably wouldn’t invite musicians to my dinner party . . . Too many friggen issues! If I had to choose maybe Anthony Kiedis and Mike Patton because they hate each other, Phil Anselmo because I think he would come in with some meat head mediation. Can’t imagine dead people at a dinner party.
What has been your biggest cooking disaster to date?
I made a pizza once with severely burnt garlic. Tasted like a foot.
When you tour overseas, what food from home do you miss the most?
We haven’t left yet, but based on previous experience, I’d say just fresh fruit and vegetables.
What’s the most adventurous meal you’ve ever eaten?
Probably emu, crocodile, snake, blood pudding and lamb’s brains.
What’s the most outrageous food and drinks you’ve ever asked for on your rider?
We’ve never pushed that boundary in fear of coming off as pretentious tossheads. Nothing really outrageous on our rider. Apart from an African Parrot trained to recite Sylvia Plath poems and shell us pistachio nuts with our portraits micro etched on them by someone with three breasts.
What is your signature dish?
My signature dish is probably Jamie Oliver’s Dan Dan Noodles. Check out his 20-minute meals app or books for the recipe. I like it because the mortar ground Szechwan peppers, chili oil, crushed garlic and soy sauce goes really nicely with the honeyed beef mince, egg noodles and bok choy.
I also make a really quick and easy pasta.
Get some dried porcini mushrooms and put in a bowl with a little bit of boiling water. Fry up some bacon.
Fry up shitloads of mushrooms with a bit of butter. When the mushrooms are just starting to shrink a bit and get slightly golden brown, turn off the heat, add two cloves of crushed garlic, a knob of butter and a decent amount of balsamic vinegar.
While this is happening cook up some egg linguini or fettuccini as per the packet instructions.
Strain the pasta and add this ready made pasta sauce: Add some fresh basil and parsley and mix the bacon and both mushroom mixtures in (balsamic & porcinni) Bloody Wha la!
Twelve Foot Ninja – 2013 Shuriken Tour Dates:
September 6 Tempo Hotel, Brisbane
September 7 Parkwood Tavern, Gold Coast
September 12 Zierholz UC, Canberra
September 13 Waves, Wollongong
September 14 Manning Bar, Sydney
September 19 Small Ballroom, Newcastle
September 20 Entrance Leagues, The Entrance
September 21 Mona Vale Hotel, Mona Vale
September 26 Prince of Wales, Bunbury
September 27 Rosemount Hotel, Perth
October 4 Corner Hotel, Melbourne
October 5 Fowlers Live, Adelaide
