Tastykake Step Van in Front of Cookie’s Tavern in South Philly originally uploaded by Ezra Wolfe
A couple of weeks ago I came across this interesting peek at a book which chronicles the last meal wishes for 50 different chefs. The book’s title is My Last Supper: The Next Course: 50 More Great Chefs and Their Final Meals: Portraits, Interviews, and Recipes
From the article:
“Yes, there was a lot of foie gras, a lot of caviar,” Dunea says, “and there was a lot of fried chicken, too! I tried to match their answers with a photograph, so in one case, I might have gone to a restaurant … I photographed a chef making illegal moonshine …
[...]
The chefs’ responses run the gamut. David Chang just wants a Bud Light. Tom Colicchio would want his mother’s gravy. Bill Telepan of New York City’s Telepan Restaurant envisions a picturesque white house on a farm, big sky, blueberries and a slow-cooked, cumin-rubbed, citrus-y pig, and his father making ice cream.
Bon Appetit went one step further and published some other excellent questions asked of the chefs pertaining to their last meal choices:
- 1. What would be the setting for the meal?
2. Who would prepare the meal?
3. What would you drink with your meal?
So if you knew it was your last day on Earth and you had one final meal to eat what would it be? Where would the meal be and who would be there? Would you be drinking a Coke like Mrs. Marcos or a sharp Surly Furious like lefty and Claire? Would you want the meal prepared at home by your mom, grandmother or wife? Would you want to be eating at your favorite restaurant? As a related aside, do you think prisoners should be able to eat whatever they want for their last meal when they are condemned to death? Whatever you have to say about your final meal go ahead and comment on as I’d love to hear what you have to say.
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November 15th, 2011 at 7:08 am
I used to work with a guy from Phily who would never shut up about Tastycakes. They mush be very special. He was certainly special.
November 15th, 2011 at 8:00 am
Wow Bill. I was thinking Furious even before you called it out for me. I have two options. Both of which I have never done.
1. Full 9 course meal with wine at French Laundry. This is high on my personal bucket list and one I hope to do, but don’t really want it to be my last meal ever.
2. Right along side #1, I don’t know that having a burger at the Nook (Nookie Supreme or maybe just a cheesburger), fries and the previously mentioned Furious (one while I wait, a second one with the meal) wouldn’t probably be just as satisfying as whatever I envision the French Laundry to be.
If I had to make the call at this moment (and in the middle of a major diet that includes no drinking), I would go with the Nook. Actually it might happen for real since this diet is killing me anyway.
Death Row inmates should be given what the rest of the loser criminals have to eat that day, imo.
November 15th, 2011 at 8:03 am
This is a good question. I’ll have to think about it more. Certainly not my mother’s cooking. Love her. Not so much her cooking. Maybe Fogo and I’ll just sit there and eat until the heart attack takes me.
November 15th, 2011 at 8:28 am
The Never Ending Pasta Bowl at Olive Garden, then my last meal would never have to end.
November 15th, 2011 at 8:36 am
i’d rather not know that it’s my last meal:)
bb
November 15th, 2011 at 9:21 am
First, for someone on death row, no special meal. They took someone else’s rights, they have no rights in my book.
As for a last meal, I would have to combine some favorites. Maybe a ‘Tripleplay’ burger from King’s, a side of great hash browns from someplace that makes them right, few do. A trip to an incredible old-fashioned salad bar a la ‘The Water’s Edge’ out in Starbuck, MN. and if I had room for it, some great English fish & chips. Plaice would be my preferred fish and a couple spicy bangers, all covered in Malt vinegar and salt. And beer, but so many choices. I would probably go with our legendary Grain Belt Premium to enjoy without it stealing from the flavors of the food. It has always been one of my favorites and the first I had as a teenager. Second choice for beer would be Nessie, made since 1148 in Scotland from the remains of distilling scotch, but good luck finding it here. Dessert would be a chunk of Rhubarb crisp with a scoop of Edy’s french vanilla topped with some pure maple syrup.
November 15th, 2011 at 10:07 am
I would eat as a last meal:
veggie spring roll
a couple of tonkatsu w/white rice
bowl of pho, need bottles of hoisin and hot sauce nearby
bottle of Yebisu beer
Tray of about 20 sashimi
All prepared by someone who is competent.
and cap it off with a couple slugs of Suntory Yamazaki single malt, like ’79 or so
Then shoot me, I’m ready!
People on death row aren’t in a position to receive a special privilege. HOWEVER, if they will be getting zapped by an electric chair, I would send in a chef to cook them a last meal consisting of eggs. He would hold up the egg and say “this is your brain” and then crack it on hot skillet and while cooking say “this is your brain when they flip the switch” hahaha!!!
November 15th, 2011 at 11:59 am
Surly Furious and Nookie Supreme$&*^&(%NO CARRIER
November 15th, 2011 at 1:03 pm
Had to think about it little but finally got it sorted out. The final meal would be at County Line BBQ, Austin, TX. (photo 1) …hands down the best brisket and Q I’ve ever eaten. And they certainly know how to make a good slaw as well. Then it would be off to the Broken Spoke for an evening of good ole honky-tonk and western swing. (photo 2) Heaven!
November 15th, 2011 at 1:04 pm
… and the Broken Spoke.
November 15th, 2011 at 3:59 pm
Tough one, but I’m fairly certain it would be the steak finger basket at Ray’s Drive-In in Lufkin, Texas. Those lovely slabs of beef with their not too crunchy breading have enough grease to soak through at least a handful of napkins. With the right amount of salt and pepper, dipped in thick white gravy, they are heaven. The onion rings are large and sweet, with just the right ratio of onion to breading (which for me is way more breading than onion). Add a couple slices of Texas toast and a Vanilla malt to round it out. Anywhere else I’d go with chocolate, because vanilla is usually just so, well, vanilla. But there it’s creamy, flavorful, and served in a wonderful Styrofoam cup. Damn the environment, styrofoam is the best thing to ever happen to beverages.
I must admit it has been years since I had this meal, because I haven’t been to the Lone Star state since I fell off the wagon. So maybe it won’t hold up to my childhood-ish memories. But, I’m scheduled for a trip in a few weeks and this is definitely on my list. I’ll verify or recant at that time.
November 15th, 2011 at 4:12 pm
Nice C&V…nice!
November 15th, 2011 at 8:26 pm
Meh… I somehow think I wouldn’t really care, because either I’m all screwed up on anti-cancer drugs, or too old to taste anything let alone chew it, or was in the middle of thinking about sex when the light rail train hits me. (those things are quiet) I guess if push came to shove, I’d be looking for something that doesn’t exist anymore. O’Grady’s thick cut potato chips. those were yummy.
My guess is that the purpose of giving convicts a final meal is to give them a sense of some control over a life they actually do not have any control of any longer. The book, The Green Mile gave you a sense of the idea of allowing the convict some feeling of comfort even though they are heading to death. Mostly so it isn’t such a pain in the ass to get them strapped down.
November 16th, 2011 at 8:57 pm
I would either have the Bison Burger from Buster’s on 28th with a Magic Hat #9 or the Lamb Sirloin and spinach salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette with a nice expensive Bordeaux from Minerva’s in my home town of Sioux Falls.
November 17th, 2011 at 3:19 pm
Aliecat,
I have tried so hard to get into some of the Magic Hat offerings, but they always seem way too sweet for me. What is the #9? I don’t think that has graced my palate yet (yes I could google it, but looking for a beer discussion topic since we never have them on this site).
November 17th, 2011 at 7:14 pm
The #9 is a nice pale ale that’s not sweet at all, just a little bitter. It’s also not super alcoholic like a lot of the other pale ales. You should give it a try. I know they sell it at MGM and Sturdyks.
December 19th, 2011 at 7:34 pm
Update: I traveled to Texas, had my beloved steak finger basket with onion rings, and stand by my choice. It was just as awesome as I remembered. I even almost cried at the end after thinking about how it would likely be at least a year before I got to eat it again.
December 19th, 2011 at 8:25 pm
haha, I was just thinking about this one today as well. I was eating some left over scalloped potatoes with hunks of ham chopped up in it. At that moment, I was ready to call that plenty good enough to be a last meal.