B For Bendetta
Member
I had a conversation with a friend the other day about a hypothetical situation in which you are on death row and the importance of your choice of a last meal. We approached the question with the idea that you need a nice balance between foods that hold a sentimental and nostalgic significance to you and foods that offer the most direct, intense, and satisfying taste experience. We cheated a little bit, likely giving ourselves more versatility and more food than a real prisoner might get, but we still felt the need to establish some restrictions, so here is what you get:
1. An Appetizer
2. A Side
3. An Entree
4. A Dessert
5. A Beverage
They can be consumed in any order you would like.
Maybe you guys will approach the issue differently than how we did, but here is mine.
1. The Appetizer - Toasted Ravioli with Marinara
Toasted Ravioli is one of those St. Louis things. Ravioli, typically filled with ground beef, that are breaded and deep fried. They are delicious when dipped in Marinara sauce and dusted with Parmesan. This is one of my nostalgic choices. They taste like my childhood. Like Cardinals baseball. Like the woods behind my house that I explored with my friends. Like Super Nintendo vs Sega Genesis arguments. Elementary, Middle School, High School and College. It's family dinner before my parents got divorced.
2. The Side - Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup
This is a hard one and probably the one that will be abused the most since "side" is somewhat open to interpretation. Even the best fries seem like a bland choice. A salad would be a nice palate cleanser, but I couldn't justify a salad with my last meal, even a great one. Debated Onion Rings, but in the end I want a great bowl of soup. A nice, hearty, bowl of Chicken noodle with a great, full bodied broth, huge chunks of chicken, egg noodles, carrots, celery an onion. So good and some hints of nostalgia here as well.
3. The Entree - A Sandwich
This was the hardest one for me and probably the one GAF will think I'm crazy for. I started off with a great medium rare steak. For immediate satiation there is nothing better. My love of seafood forced me to change this to a great medium rare Ahi Tuna steak, but in the end I gave this up to go with my favorite food, a simple, cold sandwich. The perfect sandwich is practically impossible to achieve. It is cuisine that is entirely dependent on every ingredient being excellent to create something greater than the sum of its parts. Something as seemingly minuscule as a shitty slice of tomato or unsatisfying, bland bread can ruin the whole thing. But when everything is on, it is the best food. I love nothing better than a great cold sandwich, some great Turkey Breast, thick sliced ham, medium cooked and freshly cut roast beef (can't have any of that shitty quality, old roast beef with that disgusting green sheen on it), thick sliced smoked gouda, crisp lettuce, a thick sliced, juicy tomato, and mayo. All of this served on the chewiest sourdough, with the crunchiest, denture-shattering crust. Served with a pickle spear, obviously. Couldn't find a great picture for this, probably because the perfect sandwich is so rare.
4. The Dessert - Homemade Chocolate Chip Cookies
It was hard not to go ice cream on this one, but I don't think there is anything better than chocolate chip cookies right out of the oven. Still gooey in the middle, and the chips have to be melted still. Delicious, and reminds me of mother's baking.
5. The Beverage - A Samuel Adams Boston Lager
This was surprisingly the easiest decision for me. My buddy went with a pepsi from a can, which I get, but it's not for me. Beer-GAF knows how much I love my beer. My favorite beer was tempting, A Perennial Artisan Ales bourbon barrel aged Abraxas, an imperial stout brewed with cacao nibs, vanilla beans, cinnamon, and ancho chilli powder. Or a beautiful Cantillon sour would be amazing. In the end though I just want an awesome, well balance and full flavored beer. There are hundreds out there and I'm going with the first craft beer I ever had, a Sam Adams Boston Lager. It has a great hop profile and a wonderful malt backbone with the great crispness and refreshment of a lager. Gotta be served chilled, but not ice cold, in a pint glass with a great head on it. It brings back memories of all of my best friends and wonderful times that craft beer has brought my adult life. Flirting with women. Profane jokes and endless laughter. Urinals and calculating tips. Drunk fast food and old video games. It's perfect and a great cap for a great meal.
So GAF, What would be your final meal?
1. An Appetizer
2. A Side
3. An Entree
4. A Dessert
5. A Beverage
They can be consumed in any order you would like.
Maybe you guys will approach the issue differently than how we did, but here is mine.
1. The Appetizer - Toasted Ravioli with Marinara
Toasted Ravioli is one of those St. Louis things. Ravioli, typically filled with ground beef, that are breaded and deep fried. They are delicious when dipped in Marinara sauce and dusted with Parmesan. This is one of my nostalgic choices. They taste like my childhood. Like Cardinals baseball. Like the woods behind my house that I explored with my friends. Like Super Nintendo vs Sega Genesis arguments. Elementary, Middle School, High School and College. It's family dinner before my parents got divorced.
2. The Side - Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup
This is a hard one and probably the one that will be abused the most since "side" is somewhat open to interpretation. Even the best fries seem like a bland choice. A salad would be a nice palate cleanser, but I couldn't justify a salad with my last meal, even a great one. Debated Onion Rings, but in the end I want a great bowl of soup. A nice, hearty, bowl of Chicken noodle with a great, full bodied broth, huge chunks of chicken, egg noodles, carrots, celery an onion. So good and some hints of nostalgia here as well.
3. The Entree - A Sandwich
This was the hardest one for me and probably the one GAF will think I'm crazy for. I started off with a great medium rare steak. For immediate satiation there is nothing better. My love of seafood forced me to change this to a great medium rare Ahi Tuna steak, but in the end I gave this up to go with my favorite food, a simple, cold sandwich. The perfect sandwich is practically impossible to achieve. It is cuisine that is entirely dependent on every ingredient being excellent to create something greater than the sum of its parts. Something as seemingly minuscule as a shitty slice of tomato or unsatisfying, bland bread can ruin the whole thing. But when everything is on, it is the best food. I love nothing better than a great cold sandwich, some great Turkey Breast, thick sliced ham, medium cooked and freshly cut roast beef (can't have any of that shitty quality, old roast beef with that disgusting green sheen on it), thick sliced smoked gouda, crisp lettuce, a thick sliced, juicy tomato, and mayo. All of this served on the chewiest sourdough, with the crunchiest, denture-shattering crust. Served with a pickle spear, obviously. Couldn't find a great picture for this, probably because the perfect sandwich is so rare.
4. The Dessert - Homemade Chocolate Chip Cookies
It was hard not to go ice cream on this one, but I don't think there is anything better than chocolate chip cookies right out of the oven. Still gooey in the middle, and the chips have to be melted still. Delicious, and reminds me of mother's baking.
5. The Beverage - A Samuel Adams Boston Lager
This was surprisingly the easiest decision for me. My buddy went with a pepsi from a can, which I get, but it's not for me. Beer-GAF knows how much I love my beer. My favorite beer was tempting, A Perennial Artisan Ales bourbon barrel aged Abraxas, an imperial stout brewed with cacao nibs, vanilla beans, cinnamon, and ancho chilli powder. Or a beautiful Cantillon sour would be amazing. In the end though I just want an awesome, well balance and full flavored beer. There are hundreds out there and I'm going with the first craft beer I ever had, a Sam Adams Boston Lager. It has a great hop profile and a wonderful malt backbone with the great crispness and refreshment of a lager. Gotta be served chilled, but not ice cold, in a pint glass with a great head on it. It brings back memories of all of my best friends and wonderful times that craft beer has brought my adult life. Flirting with women. Profane jokes and endless laughter. Urinals and calculating tips. Drunk fast food and old video games. It's perfect and a great cap for a great meal.
So GAF, What would be your final meal?
