Have you ever pondered this? I have. Whenever I read about some poor chump’s last meal I always start ruminating on what I would choose for myself. I waver between wanting something very gourmet or some kind of very basic comfort food like a bucket of chicken and some beer.
I’ve never tasted truffles or foie gras so sometimes I think I’d like to try them before they fry me, but that could be problematic…what if I don’t like them?
So at this point, I think I’d just like a big mess of fried chicken, mashed potatoes with gravy, some pecan pie ala mode for desert and a twelve pack of some good imported beer.
So what would you choose? For the convenience of the discussion. let’s assume that you can get anything you want, including high end gourmet delicacies or wines as well as specific brands or restaurants if you want.
I think I’d have a 10 ounce Kobe Steak (never tried the stuff) as big a lobster as they could get their hands on, grilled. A 6 pack of Stella Artois, a dozen pieces of good fried chicken, and a pound of Piron Chocolates.
It’s either that, or 20 white castles, extra onions and pickles, and a 12 pack of Old Style. (sure, they might kill me, but they’d never get the smell out of that room)
A really greasy jumbo-sized gyros with fries. A bucket of beer, another bucket of wine. The biggest chocolate pudding you’ve ever seen and a two-pound ladle.
Actually, this is an interesting thing to think about it. Many states have lawn in place that don’t allow for the execution of prisoners who are in comas/on a respirator/really really sick. So maybe something you’re allergic to? Or the fugu, as GIGObuster suggested.
Just to be a spoilsport (I’m sure the OP already knows this, but some posters may not) …
A guy on death row can’t ask for lobster Thermidor or pheasant under glass. His choice of last meals is limited to foods that are normally on the prison cafeteria menu.
That’s why most convicts facing execution choose fried chicken, spaghetti or a cheeseburger. NOT because those dishes are his favorites in the world, NOT because the prison chef makes them so magnificently, but because those are the most palatable items served regularly at a prison cafeteria.
P.S. I know my previous post seemed snarky, maybe more so siince DIogenes and I aren’t the best of friends. So up front, I recognize that Diogenes was really just asking “What’s your favorite food in the world?”
My objection was based on the existence of web sites and cookbooks like the one cited by Necro Romancer. Yes, I’ve seen cookbooks giving the recipes of dishes requested as last meal by men on death row! The implication seems to be “Buy this book- our fried chicken MUST be the best in the world, since men keep asking for it as their last meal.”
In reality, guys on death row have a very limited choice for their last meal. A standard prison may serve chili on Sunday, cheeseburgers on Monday, fried chicken on Tuesday, meatloaf on Wednesday, spaghetti on Thursday, fish sticks on Friday and Salisbury steak on Saturday. Well, if convict #264653 is going to the chair on a Saturday night, he’s allowed to ask for fried chicken or a cheeseburger, rather than the usual Saturday fare. That’s the extent of his choice.
So, if he opts for fried chicken, that’s not necessarily a glowing recommendation for the prison’s fried chicken recipe! Fried chicken MAY just be the least bad of the 7 options he has.
But if I really DID have a choice for last meal, and it really COULD be anything… a big bag of White Castle cheeseburgers would be good- especially since I’d be dead before I had to suffer the inevitable next-day woes!
OK -
[ul][li]French onion soup to begin. Not a lot of cheese and croutons and stuff, just the soup. A glass of Liebfraumilch to go with it.[/li][li]Spinach and strawberry salad vinegarette for the next course. Sourdough hard rolls and butter. Chardonnay. [/li][li]A pineapple sorbet between courses. [/li][li]Then prime rib, medium (NOT medium rare, medium - hot pink center) with horseradish sauce. Au gratin potatoes, and baby carrots. Chateau-neuf-de-Pape for this course, I think. [/li][li]Chocolate souffle with vanilla sauce. Champagne for the dessert course, but not too dry - a fairly sweet one would go better with a sweet dessert.[/li][li]Coffee, black but with about half a shot of creme de cacao in it. And a good cigar. [/ul][/li]
Damn, now I’m hungry.
GIGOBuster allready gone for Fugu, but I’ll up the ante with Fugu liver Pate. I’d let the guards try some as well if I could. Damned if I’ll let them kill me on their own terms (maybe literally if that rule against suicide of God’s is true).
First of all, I’d ask for a bunch of Tums or one of the incredibly effective antacids they have on the market now. If I were about to be executed, I’m sure the massive heartburn (figurative) in anticipation of more massive, permanent heartburn (literal) would be so great as to make the possibility of eating anything remote at best.
After having my stomach biles soothed, I’d go for a plate of sushi, some huge fried shrimp, a t-bone, lightly blanched spinach or asparagus, and a helluva lot of chocolate. Maybe wash it all down with some yummy beers and cold water.
Good point. But I have to question that it’s 100% true. Sure in Texas, where they’re offing people every couple of hours (sorry, kidding…), but I imagine it varies from State to State, possible prison to prison. I’ve read list of last meals and there have been some unusual requests granted (and even weirded ones denied, but that’s something else again). At least one guy on Necro’s list got Chinese take out.
I imagine it also depends a lot on if you’ve got someone outside willing to get something sent in to you. If you’ve already killed all your friends, you’ll probably have to settle for cheeseburger…
I suppose that it depends on how I was going to be killed.
For the electric chair (Not that it’s the preferred method anymore) I’d request 10lbs of unpopped popcorn. Give those witnesses a life long aversion to the stuff.
