If it was your last meal, would you go with the double cheeseburger?

by Bruce Watson, Posted Sep 19th 2008 @ 2:00PM

For people who are having a really, really hard time choosing what to have for dinner, the "Last Meal Delivery Service" will create a replica of the last meal consumed by somebody in the United States. The cost is $20, which is generally the maximum allowed for a final supper, and the meal must be ordered "well in advance of the delivery date."

Unfortunately, this service is only available in Toronto, which means that, if you want to enjoy Ted Bundy's last dinner, you'll probably have to make it yourself. With that in mind, it's worth noting a few of the more interesting last suppers on record. Adolf Eichmann, for instance, wasn't up to eating, so he drank a half bottle of Carmel, a dry red Israeli wine. Gary Gilmore, the man who ushered in the return of the death penalty in the US, consumed a hamburger, hard-boiled eggs, a baked potato, a few cups of coffee, and three shots of whiskey. Noted serial killer John Wayne Gacy ate a dozen deep-fried shrimp, a bucket of original-recipe Kentucky Fried Chicken, french fries, and a pound of strawberries, while terrorist Timothy McVeigh guzzled two pints of mint chocolate-chip ice cream. Perhaps the most interesting last meal, however, is James Smith, a murderer who asked for a clod of dirt, ostensibly for a voodoo ritual.

While these are somewhat distinctive, it's interesting to note that most death row inmates choose hamburgers for their last meals, and are followed by steaks, particularly T-bones. The vast majority ask for fries on the side and ice cream for dessert. Ted Bundy, ironically, didn't request a last meal at all, and ended up eating the standard steak and eggs, with a side of hash browns, a couple of pieces of toast, a glass of juice, and a cup of coffee. Under the circumstances, it's not surprising that so many inmates choose comfort food, but I still have to admire Victor Feguer, whose choice of a single olive with a pit in it is both lyrical and mysterious!

Filed Under: Food Oddities, Trends, Ingredients, Celebrities
Tags: comfort food, final meals, FinalMeals, Gary Gilmore, GaryGilmore, james smith, JamesSmith, john wayne gacy, JohnWayneGacy, Last Meal Delivery Service, last supper, LastMealDeliveryService, LastSupper, oddities, ted bundy, TedBundy, timothy mcveigh, TimothyMcveigh

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Reader comments (Page 1 of 1)

9-20-2008 @7:59PM Kate said... My understanding from the oft-repeated tale of the single olive, with pit, is that there was not much mystery behind his request. Victor Feguer desired that from his corpse, the pit would sprout and grow into an olive tree -- for peace.
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