No more last meal requests in Texas. What would you choose as your final meal?
A burger and fries is a common last meal request.
Photo by Flickr user Robert S. Donovan.
I don't know about you, but I have spent an inordinate amount of time over the years pondering what my last meal would be. This pondering presumed that I would one day be on death row facing imminent execution, of course, so it was all a hypothetical exercise. I hope.
Should I ever find myself actually on death row, however, I should make sure it's not in Texas. Because as of this month, prisoners sentenced to death in that state are no longer given the opportunity to request a favorite last meal. Instead, they will be fed whatever is on the menu for the rest of the prison population that day.
The policy change was made late last month, apparently, after Lawrence Russell Brewer, a prisoner scheduled to be executed, made an outlandish meal request that he then declined to eat, according to the New York Times.
"Before Mr. Brewer was executed by lethal injection in the Huntsville Unit on Wednesday, he was given the last meal of his request: two chicken-fried steaks with gravy and sliced onions; a triple-patty bacon cheeseburger; a cheese omelet with ground beef, tomatoes, onions, bell peppers and jalapenos; a bowl of fried okra with ketchup; one pound of barbecued meat with half a loaf of white bread; three fajitas; a meat-lover’s pizza; one pint of Blue Bell Ice Cream; a slab of peanut-butter fudge with crushed peanuts; and three root beers."
This got me thinking again. If I knew I had one last meal to eat before I died, what would it be?
Fresh, ripe heirloom tomatoes, sliced thin and layered with handmade fresh mozzarella, topped with a nice grassy olive oil, ribbons of basil, and salt and pepper.
My mom's sherried mushroom soup.
Roasted brussels sprouts and garlic, made from Peggy Lampman's recipe.
I gave the main course a lot of thought. A steak would be awfully trite, but I do enjoy a nice medium-rare filet mignon. On the other hand, after that mushroom soup, it might be a little too heavy.
When it comes down to it, I honestly can't think of anything I would want more than two perfectly poached eggs, whole wheat toast, and crispy bacon and some fresh berries.
Interested in reading about what death row prisoners chose for their last meal? Check out The Last Meals Project.
What would you choose for your last meal?
Jessica Webster leads the Food & Grocery section for AnnArbor.com. You can reach her at JessicaWebster@AnnArbor.com.
Comments
michal poe
Thu, Oct 13, 2011 : 2:26 p.m.
It's weird because I have often thought of this too. Tastes have changed over the years. But, I think I'd want to make my own last meal. Because I wouldn't have been able to cook there in the prison. And baking especially is a stress reliever for me. It would consist of a few comfort foods, probably specialties of my mother.....I could say every once in a while, while I was cooking, "I'm coming to meet you Mama." (that would be in Heaven because I'm not guilty of this crime that has put me on death row for forever how long). They say 5% of people put to death were in fact innocent. Also 5% of all people in prison are innocent. I would have finally been included in at least one of the top 5% categories!
jns131
Thu, Oct 13, 2011 : 2:26 p.m.
I read that article last month. I think they said something like this has been going on for hundreds of years. Although after asking what he did? I can totally understand why Texas did what he did. I think they said another prisoner did the same thing. As for me? I too have thought about this and don't really know what I would want to request. I just love to eat.
Gordon
Thu, Oct 13, 2011 : 1:57 p.m.
All those oysters, Peggy and then you die. What a waste.
Peggy Lampman
Thu, Oct 13, 2011 : 3:01 p.m.
I know, I know. Poor oysters!
jns131
Thu, Oct 13, 2011 : 2:23 p.m.
I just read an article about foods to avoid by the FDA. Oysters from the Gulf tops that list of foods to avoid, but the ones from cold areas are the safest. Heck, I am going to die anywyay, let it be foods to avoid.
Sarah Rigg
Thu, Oct 13, 2011 : 1:31 p.m.
My mother's macaroni and cheese followed by strawberry-rhubarb pie.
Peggy Lampman
Thu, Oct 13, 2011 : 10:52 a.m.
I'd begin with oysters on the half shell, followed a platter of grilled oysters from Acme Bar and Grill, tempura oysters with Asian dipping sauce, oyster stew and finally mom's baked spinach and oyster casserole. Funny Bulgogi was mentioned. I have some leftovers from Kosmos Deli in my fridge (I'm working on a recipe. Will also try from BeWon.)
jwally
Thu, Oct 13, 2011 : 9:08 a.m.
1,000,000 course meal.
Darth Pablo
Thu, Oct 13, 2011 : 2:37 a.m.
I would choose my last meal based on the method of execution. If i was getting the chair, I'd go for something hot and spicy. You know, Thai, maybe Mexican. Lethal Injection, feels like pasta. You know, painless, dont want anything too heavy.
Jake C
Thu, Oct 13, 2011 : 2:10 a.m.
"two chicken-fried steaks with gravy and sliced onions; a triple-patty bacon cheeseburger; a cheese omelet with ground beef, tomatoes, onions, bell peppers and jalapenos; a bowl of fried okra with ketchup; one pound of barbecued meat with half a loaf of white bread; three fajitas; a meat-lover's pizza; one pint of Blue Bell Ice Cream; a slab of peanut-butter fudge with crushed peanuts; and three root beers." Cost of Mr. Brewer's last meal: maybe $200, if you factor in the delivery tips. Cost of executing a prisoner in Texas: $2.3 million, on average. <a href="http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/FactSheet.pdf" rel='nofollow'>http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/FactSheet.pdf</a> Yep, we certainly have our priorities straight, right there.
Tesla
Thu, Oct 13, 2011 : 1:34 a.m.
Couple pounds of fresh Mackinaw Island fudge, a quart of milk and a two liter of cold coke.
bedrog
Wed, Oct 12, 2011 : 11:51 p.m.
An all you can eat, no time limit buffet.
Craig Lounsbury
Wed, Oct 12, 2011 : 10:21 p.m.
not sure I'd be all that hungry as the clock ticked down.
treetowncartel
Wed, Oct 12, 2011 : 9:59 p.m.
Bul-go-ki(spicy pork) from BeWon, that stuff is heavenly.