Last meals.

You discuss it after a particularly satisfying holiday feast. Melanie Dunea wrote a book about the topic last year. And now, the National Museum of Crime and Punishment has queried more than 500 of their visitors on the subject, asking: "What if you could have absolutely anything you desired -- and what if you knew it would be the last meal you ever ate?"

There were absolutely no limitations or conditions set on the answers. The questioners found that people tended to gravitate towards foods that were either comforting and familiar or extravagantly luxurious for their final repast. The most popular responses were...



Some of the more unusual requests included kielbasa, pop tarts and Stouffer's macaroni and cheese. There were also many votes for John Wayne Gacy's last meal, which was 12 deep-fried shrimp, a bucket of Original Recipe chicken from KFC, french fries and a pound of strawberries.

Personally, I think I'd go for really excellent Vietnamese deep fried spring rolls, several slices perfectly charred, brick oven pizza and a hand-packed pint of Bassett's Ice Cream. How about you?

[via NBCwashington.com]

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!