As the bass player and lead vocalist of Bulletproof Tiger, Kris Huseby is a master of the gruff voice and heavy hand.
When Los Tigres play live, Huseby lives for the moment his creations connect with people. After a Chicago basement show, a few kids approached him to say Bulletproof Tiger reminded them of Hot Water Music and Hum — two of Huseby's heroes. He still beams when talking about that night: "I just had to hug them."
Coincidentally, this punk-rock screamer is also an accomplished cook. And it came as a pleasant surprise when New Times heard that Huseby was quitting his day job to start the Gypsy Kitchen Food Truck. We wondered: Does this mean Bulletproof Tiger will roll cross-country selling samosas after its shows? Actually, yes, kind of. "We're gonna go up to the [Gainesville] Fest and set up shop outside of the venue," Huseby says.
Over the past few years, Huseby has moved from pizza cook to line cook to sous chef in a few different restaurants. Under the tutelage of Jason Martinez at Town Kitchen & Bar, he grew to love and understand the art of cooking. But just like any other creative dude worth his weight in kosher salt, he got tired of punching a clock and decided to go into business for himself.
He sat down, made a menu, priced the food, and wrote a business plan. And as luck would have it, his old friend Ahmit Savani was looking for an enterprise to invest in. Savani, who grew up learning to cook in his mother's kitchen, was keen on the idea. And practically overnight, Huseby went from a guy in a band working overtime to punk-rock business owner.
The Gypsy Kitchen Food Truck is being custom-built right now. In the meantime, Huseby and Savani have set up food stands at a couple of events and held a few secret tastings. The screamer-slash-cook admits he gets as much joy out of watching people enjoy his food as he does seeing kids go ape while his band plays. Pretty cool for a guy who took up cooking to "kind of impress girlfriends."
Catch Bulletproof Tiger, along with Furious Dudes and a special guest, as part of Miami New Times' Crossfade Concert Series at the Stage Miami on June 30 .
