Tuesday, July 7, 2009

It’s midnight. Do you know where your appetite is?

Naturally following the line of burrito and diet soda rankings comes The Last Meal.  Okay, so it’s not completely a natural progression, but it follows the motif of culinary concoctions.  [I apologize to anyone who knows/knew someone on death row.  I sincerely mean no offense but am using this 'last meal' idea to relay a concept I want to get across.]

My simple question is: You are to have one last meal on Earth.  What will it consist of?  Imagine that you are limited to five items and have an unlimited appetite and budget.  Seriously.  Unlimited.

I’ll give you my last meal but am more interested in hearing yours, even if you tell me about this ‘delicious T-bone steak’ you crave :-)

Post below in the comments, on Facebook, on GTalk, etc. 

My Last Meal

[All of the below to be made vegan]
1. Macaroni and cheese
Straight up Velveeta-style.  In other words, soft shells with lots of gooey cheese sauce.
2. Chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream
Creamy vanilla with chocolate chips and lots of cookie dough.  As in, make it rain cookie dough.
3. Cinnamon Toast Crunch and soymilk
There is something magical about pouring the first bowl of CTC from a freshly opened box.  I think Wendell is inside of the box blowing out cinnamon and sugar magic dust upon opening the box.  None of the succeeding bowls ever match up.  And that soymilk better be creamy and delicious Silk Vanilla. 
4. My mom’s bhinda/bhataka shaak (cut, cooked, and spiced okra/potatoes)
You think I would leave out home cooking?  Bhinda/bhataka is the best combination this side of Brady/Moss.  And my mom’s version?  Unbeatable.

I’ll admit.  After the top four, there is a huge dropoff.  I had to struggle to think about #5.  Unfortunately, two #5 ideas came to mind. 

5. (Tie): Root Beer - in a frosted mug
A tall glass of ice cold root beer is unbeatable.  Most of you think that root beer is nasty.  Sorry.  Not this customer here.  Pour me a cold one.
5. (Tie): Jamaican Jerk Seitan - from Horizons Gourmet in Philadelphia
The second of my #5 ideas is from one of the best restaurants I’ve ever been to.  Horizons is ludicriously expensive but oh-so-good.  Their Jamaican Jerk Seitan is incredible…spiced and seasoned to perfection.  For those unfamiliar with’ jerk’, Wiki says, “
Jerk seasoning principally relies upon two items: allspice (called “pimento” in Jamaica) and Scotch bonnet peppers (among the hottest peppers on the Scoville scale). Other ingredients include cloves, cinnamon, scallions, nutmeg, thyme, garlic.”

A quick look into death row inmates’ last meal selections reveals some interesting historical tidbits:

(A) PETA requested that Oklahoma City bomber Tim McVeigh eat a vegan last meal in order to prevent further destruction of life.  While prison officials scoffed at the idea, McVeigh personally wrote back stating that plants have circulatory systems and therefore the capacity to feel pain (true).  Therefore, humans should just accept their place on the food chain (um, okay).  For his last meal, he chose two pints of mint chocolate chip ice cream.  Not vegan, but still a vegetarian meal; surprising, given his hunting background.
(B) Philip Workman, a Nashville native who killed a policeman during a botched robbery, did not request a last meal, but instead asked that a large vegetarian pizza be sent to a homeless person.  His request was denied but once it was made public, thousands of vegetarian pizzas were donated by individuals to Nashville food shelters.

Other interesting facts:
*Alcohol and tobacco are generally not allowed but exceptions have been made. 
*Many times, last meals are limited to what is available within the prison system. 
*Some states have a $40 limit on a last meal. 
*Maryland does not grant a ‘last meal’. 
*A look into fictional and real last meals does not reveal too much of a difference between the two. 

We’ve now covered me, two criminals, and some other footnotes.  What about you…

Posted by Shardule at 05:09:22
Comments

2 Responses to “It’s midnight. Do you know where your appetite is?”

  1. Your Sister says:

    You’re a fake vegan!

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