Did you ever think about what you would like for your last supper? Prisoners have long had “a last supper” request where they are allowed to choose a menu. If you knew without any uncertainty that you were going to die tomorrow what would be your last meal on earth?
I was intrigued when I saw the title of the book My Last Supper – 50 Great Chefs and Their Final Meals by Melanie Dunea with an introduction by Anthony Bourdain. I ordered a used copy because I could not justify spending $30 on a book that I would read and give away but when it came I was thrilled. It has graced my coffee table for weeks now and I am finally getting around to really reading it and enjoying it before I pass it along to one of my food loving friends. 
According to the book jacket this is a favorite game of chefs. Who knew? Coming up with a last meal seems like a pretty simple task, doesn’t it? Photographer Melanie Dunea added a few more dimensions to the game by including questions of what the setting would be, what beverage would be consumed with the last supper, musical selections, who would be present and finally who would actually prepare the meal. I found this to be a fun way to think about what I would want to be my Last Supper.
While I knew very few of the chefs who were included in the book I learned a lot about each one of them by their choices. Melanie Dunea expertly photographed and recorded answers to the questions and the book is full of glossy photographs depicting various settings sometimes humorously as in the shot of Anthony Bourdain showing off his preference of roast bone marrow (trust me I won’t post a picture here but you would understand if you look up the picture) or magically as the shot of chef Helene Darroze depicts butterflies and sparkles. 
Wylie Dufresne lounges amongst a butcher block table filled with cheeses and eggs to show his love of all things eggs and cheese.
Laurent Tourondel shares his love of Krispy Kreme doughnuts along with french fries and Heinz ketchup.
The choices range from ultra fancy preparations to simple meals like fried chicken with settings as varied as the universe. Favorite guests included family, other chefs alive and dead, and friends and loved ones.
I put my thinking cap on and came up my Last Supper requests. Since I am far from being a chef my requests would be simple but I do love to eat so of course it would be all the perfect comfort foods. Now I am not saying I would have to eat a large quantity of any of the items I am listing but just a taste would make me happy.
Menu
Grilled Chicken Breasts Marinated in Olive Oil and Herbs
Fried Macaroni and Cheese
Grilled Asparagus
Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Sweet Chili Sauce Glaze
Tomato Basil Mozzarella and Olive Salad
Crusty Bread with Dipping Oil
Fresh Fruit Salad with all my favorite fruits
Strawberry Trifle made with Brownies
Strawberry Rhubarb Pie
Setting: Anyplace near a body of water. Could be a beach. Could be in our backyard at our mountain home once we get the backyard all landscaped the way we want it to be.
Beverage: Definitely some iced tea, maybe some wine, coffee and hot tea to go with the dessert choices.
Musical selections: 70’s and 80’s music on shuffle from my music collection
Dining companions: All my family and all my best friends that I have met over the years in all of the different places we have lived. There would be a huge crowd of loved ones —including all my loved ones who are no longer present on earth.
Who would prepare the meal? We would all do it together but Grandma Bonnie would make her fried mac and cheese for me, Chris would grill the chicken because he does that best, Micah and Aaron would collaborate on the veggie prep and the rest I would prepare ahead of time. Anyone who wanted to could pitch in to help. I never turn down help.
So what about you? I would love to hear what your Last Supper would be. Let me know in the comments and remember that all comments this month go to help support our Comments for a Cause SAFE.
