A few years ago I was watching television and a program* caught my eye. It was about Brian Price, a former Texas inmate chef who served last meals to men condemned to death. Interesting that I have just started an Ethics in Criminal Justice class. Weird.
From what I've read, the last meal custom goes back to 'pre-modern Europe.' Basically, it was a superstitious contract between the condemned and the living. The meal offered was a symbolic oath of truce between the condemned and the executioner. The ritual prevented the condemned from returning as a ghost. The better the food, the more secure was the oath.
I did some reading and find much to my surprise that fried chicken is near the top of the request lists with pizza, steak, and bacon cheeseburgers following in roughly that order. French-fries are the usual side and Coke is the top beverage. Strange meals from a single olive, with pit, (Iowa, 1963) to Three Burger King Whoppers, two large orders of fries, a chocolate shake, chocolate chip ice cream, and a package of grape Hubba Bubba bubble gum(Utah, 1999) have been requested and served. These are easy to find on the internet, and several books have been written covering the subject, bon appetit.
After watching this program, I decided what my own last meal would be, not before execution, I hope, and here it is:
Three fingers of Wild Turkey, served neat, a cool (not cold) pint of Guinness and Harp black and tan which I'd drink while reading a good book for about half an hour.
1 pepper mill with black pepper or a large bowl of freshly ground black pepper.
1 hickory-smoked New York Strip steak, medium. with garlic butter, grilled mushrooms and onions.
2 fingers of single malt scotch, 'Bowmore,' neat, to sip with the steak.
1 small pile of chopped barbequed brisket & pulled pork, very hot, and tossed (mixed together). no sauce
2 pieces of plain white bread to make the sandwich..
1 small bowl of fresh-green beans with pepper bacon and minced onions and garlic.
1 Large bowl of my wife's potato salad, chilled, straight from the fridge. (mayo-based w/green olives and onion)
1 small bowl of chilled cantaloupe, (not ripe) and
1 cup of Coffee, Hot. Hazelnut. Freshly ground.
About a half hour later, I'd like a Pint of very cold low-fat milk mixed with what would be considered too much Hershey's chocolate syrup. I'd Drink half of that pint and top the glass off with more milk and chocolate. (I'd mix in a little instant coffee to the chocolate milk.)
Right now, this is my perfect meal. I have memories from each and every item on this menu that are very important to me, and well, it's my last meal.
Tell me what is your perfect or last meal.
* Discovery Channel special, "Death Row: The Final 24 Hours,"
http://theclicker.today.com/_news/2012/04/26/11411937-death-row-chef-shares-last-meal-requests-on-final-24-hours?lite
From what I've read, the last meal custom goes back to 'pre-modern Europe.' Basically, it was a superstitious contract between the condemned and the living. The meal offered was a symbolic oath of truce between the condemned and the executioner. The ritual prevented the condemned from returning as a ghost. The better the food, the more secure was the oath.
I did some reading and find much to my surprise that fried chicken is near the top of the request lists with pizza, steak, and bacon cheeseburgers following in roughly that order. French-fries are the usual side and Coke is the top beverage. Strange meals from a single olive, with pit, (Iowa, 1963) to Three Burger King Whoppers, two large orders of fries, a chocolate shake, chocolate chip ice cream, and a package of grape Hubba Bubba bubble gum(Utah, 1999) have been requested and served. These are easy to find on the internet, and several books have been written covering the subject, bon appetit.
After watching this program, I decided what my own last meal would be, not before execution, I hope, and here it is:
Three fingers of Wild Turkey, served neat, a cool (not cold) pint of Guinness and Harp black and tan which I'd drink while reading a good book for about half an hour.
1 pepper mill with black pepper or a large bowl of freshly ground black pepper.
1 hickory-smoked New York Strip steak, medium. with garlic butter, grilled mushrooms and onions.
2 fingers of single malt scotch, 'Bowmore,' neat, to sip with the steak.
1 small pile of chopped barbequed brisket & pulled pork, very hot, and tossed (mixed together). no sauce
2 pieces of plain white bread to make the sandwich..
1 small bowl of fresh-green beans with pepper bacon and minced onions and garlic.
1 Large bowl of my wife's potato salad, chilled, straight from the fridge. (mayo-based w/green olives and onion)
1 small bowl of chilled cantaloupe, (not ripe) and
1 cup of Coffee, Hot. Hazelnut. Freshly ground.
About a half hour later, I'd like a Pint of very cold low-fat milk mixed with what would be considered too much Hershey's chocolate syrup. I'd Drink half of that pint and top the glass off with more milk and chocolate. (I'd mix in a little instant coffee to the chocolate milk.)
Right now, this is my perfect meal. I have memories from each and every item on this menu that are very important to me, and well, it's my last meal.
Tell me what is your perfect or last meal.
* Discovery Channel special, "Death Row: The Final 24 Hours,"
http://theclicker.today.com/_news/2012/04/26/11411937-death-row-chef-shares-last-meal-requests-on-final-24-hours?lite
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