I was listening to a Radiowest podcast on photographer Melanie Dunea’s new book My Last Supper. In it, she asks 50 famous chefs a few seemingly simple questions about what they would like for their last meal in life. What would they eat? Who would prepare it? Where would they eat it? Who would they eat it with? Their answers reveal a lot about what food really means to us.
I’ve spent some time thinking about how I would respond to those questions. My answers right now might have been different a year ago, and might even be different tomorrow, but here goes…
For my last meal, I want a traditional Hawaiian luau. Not one of the cheesy tourist luaus you get in the Waikiki hotels. I want a real luau. I want lomi-lomi salmon, poke, poi that’s about a day old, butterfish laulau, rice, and (of course) kalua pig.
That last one is very important, and I want to be there when the pig comes out of the smoking, steaming ground. When the chicken wire can barely keep the fall-apart meat together. When little bits of crispy skin stick to the wire as you unwrap the pig, and you pick them off and eat them on the spot.
I want live music. Slack key guitar, ukulele, and traditional Hawaiian folk songs. Just real people singing real music with each other. (Hmm. “Real” is becoming a theme, here.)
I want my wife there, most of all, and my family and friends. The great thing about picking a luau for my last meal is that I can have hundreds of people there to share it with. I want it up in Waimea on the Big Island, and I want everyone to prepare it together. Cooking for me is as social an activity as eating. I love cooking with my wife. I love big family get-togethers where everyone chips in. And after the food is prepared, we all sit down and enjoy.
So, that’s my last meal. What’s yours?
9 responses to “Last supper”
Classy. Glad you put “writer” first, Matthew.
I heard the same broadcast and oddly enough, I never gave a thought to what I would dream up for my last meal. The most likely reason of all, being that I was in the process of making Thanksgiving dinner – ALL BY MYSELF – because unlike chummy Matt, I can’t stand to have anyone in the kitchen while I am cooking, and the thought of any more cooking was not in any way appealing.
After a second or two of thought I think I would make Spaghetti Carbanara, because it can be done in 15 minutes and I wouldn’t feel the need to share, because if I’m dying tomorrow I want to take all the cholesterol I can with me. Ray Charles would be in the CD player, I would ask for live but I think I would need to wait a day.
Okay, so you just made me really hungry and there’s nothing to eat because all I ever do is write. Dang. I used to cook…once….
Hi Matthew,
Congrats on the new blog.
My last meal would definitely be something Italian. My favorite is homemade pizza. A thick bread crust, crispy on the outside, stretchy-doughy on the inside. A thick rich tomato sauce and combination of cheeses. Or my favorite a Margarita…same crust, layer of mozzarella, sliced tomatoes fresh from the vine and fresh basil leaves…Hmmmm.
I love to gather a crowd of family and friends, feed them pizza or pasta, share a good wine, lots of laughter and good conversation. I’d die happy.
Terrific post Matthew. I need to think about this though. This Thanksgiving dinner was one of the most memorable in recent years; I cooked the whole meal with a friend in his very new kitchen – while my wife went for a run, then took a bath, got dressed… but I had the greatest time. So, my last supper would most certainly involve my cooking it.
I have never experienced a fake touristy luau, Matt, but your description of the “real” thing sounds like a wonderful last meal. Sign me up for one of those…
But, in adding my own idea to list, let me suggest another option I find quite appealing. I have often been intrigued by the pub atmosphere. I have never been in an Irish pub, but i love the idea of folks coming together to share food and drink, talk, debate, laugh, dance, tell jokes, play games, and sing. I would love live music from an enthusiatic eclectic band and some even more enthusiastic karaoke. My menu would include simply prepared foods of any origin (sausages, phad thai, pizza, tacos, spaghetti, whatever is simple and good). I would want family and friends to relax and just have fun. I would be just as happy participating as watching folks enjoy themselves.
I would settle for string cheese and a Zero simply because I would expect full fare at breakfast in the hereafter. And I wouldn’t want to ruin my appetite.
Speaking of appetite, you have one of exceptional quality for words and how you string them together. I will be checking here often to consume a few meals. Keep up the great work and my best to you always.
Oh, and by the way, that luau, doesn’t it induce gluttony? If so, sign me up.
First, I hope I am among the invited guests at your luau! The idea of friends and family together in a united effort preparing a feast would be divine.
That being said, my final meal would have to be breakfast in the Swiss Alps. The buffet would include freshly made granolas, crunchy, flavorful, and swimming in a pool of fresh cream. There would be flakey, warm, breads, rolls, and croissants fresh from the oven, a variety of cheeses – soft, medium, and hard, cold cuts, eggs, bacons, sausages, an assortments of seasonal fruits and juices.
Of course, I reserve the right to change my mind and have my mother prepare all of those wonderful comfort foods from my childhood – roast beef, mashed potatoes with gravy, and peas… dessert would be a divine chocolate cake with soft chocolate icing.
Would you care to join the festivities? 🙂
Oh yes, Patty. Count me in. Having been to Europe, I know exactly the kind of breakfast you’re talking about. Delicious.