How About This Economy?!

Is today's economic downturn greater than the 'Great Depression'? Are we going to see bread lines and over filled soup kitchens? For the first time in several decades Japanese citizens were in bread lines on new years eve!

The idea of bread lines, soup kitchens, and the great depression got my thinking about what the President of the United States was eating while the average citizen suffered. I was lucky enough to find the menu to a meal between Calvin Coolidge and Herbert Hoover - I guess they were not experiencing the full the stresses of the times. Maybe they couldn't figure out how to save America on an empty stomach or did they need to take a nap after such a meal?

Consomme curried celery
Rolled toast and salted almonds
Brook trout w/tartar sauce
White potato curls
Cucumber aspic
Chicken Supreme w/Spanish rice
Sweet potato croquettes
Grassed beans clarified apples
Hearts of lettuce & assorted cheeses
Toasted crackers
Vanilla ice cream in molds
Pink crystal pears
Pound cake candies fruits
Coffee

What would you eat if you knew tomorrow the worlds economy would collapse, many would suffer insurmountable losses, businesses would fail, people would endure hardships they never previously encountered, and you were the President who had to turn things around?

Karate with Elvis!

The Hi-Tone Cafe in Memphis www.hitonememphis.com now fills the space where 'The King' took his Karate lessons from Master Kang Rhee. The air is now filled with a rock/blues mixture that is sure to impress any visitors ear and the LMJ was lucky enough to hear Alvin Youngblood Hart when we stopped in a few weeks ago www.alvinyoungbloodhart.net.

Now the LMJ can't say much about the food... we did converse with the locals who claim that the pizza there is pretty good, but any bar food would have went well with the music. We were pleasantly surprised that they carried Yuengling Lager so far south, so we do recommend several northern brews with the southern blues.

I guess if you were to have your last meal there, the LMJ would recommend that you call up a few of your friends, take a road trip, order a case of Yuengling, pizzas all night and sit back and revel in some of the South's best tunes.

More info on 'The King's' karate habit http://www.elvispresleymusic.com.au/pictures/elvis_presley_karate_black_belt.html

2009

The LMJ needs to get back on track in 2009. There are too many topics that need to be covered and too many people that still haven't given me their last meal!

I will start off 2009 with a story from earlier this afternoon. We enjoyed a fantastic meal with friends and they served delicious dishes ranging from homemade lasagna to roast pork sandwiches and from homemade stromboli to home made lemonchello. As we sat around the table to do what Italians do - talk about food while we eat - I raised the LMJ question to everyone and as usual it is sparked their interest and a vast conversation. The answers ranged from nachos to chocolate mouse and as usual I had to remind everyone that this was not a morbid question but one that should park memories of meals, family, and experiences of the past. I described my last meal to everyone and explained that my crabs and spaghetti experience came from my grandmother and grandfather sitting at my side when I was 6 years old feeding me crab meat while my face was covered in sauce. My grandfather died on new years day several years ago, but with out him and the rest of my family and friends I would not as passionate about food as I am today.

As we enter 2009 I encourage everyone to make sure that they have memorable meals and experiences as often as possible and to put some passion into their meals and their relationships with family and friends. Try making your perfect last meal and inviting others over to enjoy or gather with family and recall the magical meals of the past.

I wish everyone a happy and healthy 2009 and remember you can not have your own Last Meal Journey if you don't have your first true memorable culinary experience.

Your Last Meal when you know your going to get fired

Your last meal before you know your going to get fired all depends on if you are being freed from your job or let go from your passion.

Lets start with the latter. No one has ever let me go from my passion except maybe by taking away a half full plate of delicious homemade food. But if I had to put myself in the shoes of someone who knows their passion will be taken away from them I would probably have the following meal: appetizer: None - I would be too nervous to stuff my face. Main course: I would have to think of some sort of comfort food - bowl of pasta, grilled cheese with bacon and tomatoes, or a couple slices of mom's pizza. Desert: I might as well have something good for desert since I will have more free time to hit the gym - chocolate fudge brownie explosion with chocolate or rocky road ice cream.

But what do you have if you are being freed from a prison of a job. Somewhere where you used to be happy but then every day turned in chore to complete the nothingness that you were relegated to complete. When everyone else is there crying because they just received the bad news and you kinda just sit there, look out the window or into the distance with this little smug smile on your face. Here is what I HAD before my last day in prison... I mean at my previous employer: appetizer: a glass of red wine.... not the good stuff but took the place of champagne. Main course: grilled marinated chicken and grilled sweet peppers with grated cheese on top. Desert: chocolate covered almonds - sweet and crunchy.... how sweet it was to throw my belongings in my trunk and drive away from a sinking ship.

What would you have if tomorrow was your last day at your current job? Put your answer in the comment section at the end of this post - please.

Marathon Last Meal

For every other day of the year 'carbs' are avoided in fear that they lead to those unwanted pounds. But before a marathon carbs are your best friend and the energy needed to reach the finish line. A good friend says that he has fish before each of his marathons because he wanted to be quick and agile like the beasts of the sea. The buffet sponsered by the Philadelphia Marathon supplied runners with pasta, meats, salads, veggies, and desserts - all good food before a run - but good enough? What should you last meal be before running 26.2 miles of asphalt, with over over 18,000 runners, in 24 degree temperatures? What if you were running for your life and you just might not make it in time... better make sure that last meal is good one right?

The LastMealFoodie has some home made pasta in a red red sauce/gravy with a salad and home made bread - where did that get me the next day???

In a couple of days go to http://www.philadelphiamarathon.com/ and type in bib# 9218. Maybe it was the home made pasta that helped me save 15 minutes off my previous marathon time!

CEO Last Meal

This is the last meal that many would wish upon all of those fat and happy CEOs who destroyed the financial and auto industries. They got to enjoy million dollar vacation parties with lavish food and entertainment- now the get to 'enjoy' the Last Meal we have in store for them.

We could have served just bread and water but we needed to fit the appetizer, main course, desert mold. After some serious thought and one last look at the old 401K this is what we came up with:

Appetizer: Gruel (not the good kind) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gruel

Main Course: The pepper steak at Leavenworth (Pepper steak can actually be enjoyable http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/rachael-ray/pepper-steak-and-rice-pilaf-with-mushrooms-recipe/index.html)

Desert: Sharing a 6x10 cell with a guy nicknamed Bubba

Is losing your sense of taste the same thing as a death sentence for you ever again enjoying a great meal?

Is the sight and texture of a dish enough to keep you interested in what you put into your body? Is food anything more than fuel for the body if it has no taste?

With no sense of taste would you find yourself eating everything healthy and imagining that it was a tasty cheese burger? Or do you find yourself eating anything and everything, hoping that your tasteless life comes to an end sooner rather than later (ok maybe a bit much).

I found a very interesting article from 2007 about foodie who was to have oral surgery that might impact his/her total sense of taste. The foodie was able to plan out several last meals at his/her favorite NY restaurants, but wrote a request to have a ‘final meal’ at one of the few 4 star restaurants in the world, Le Bernardin. Chef Eric Ripert was happy to put together a “Doomsday Menu” that consisted of mostly seafood (Fluke, Lobster, Calamari, Salmon….) with a wine companion. And I’m sure that it was a fantastic meal but it begs the question, if you had to put your Last Meal in the hands of a specific chef or restaurant, who or where would you choose? (Use the comment feature – I would love to know your answer)

http://nymag.com/daily/food/2007/10/my_sense_of_taste_is_threatene.html

We did not forget – We will never forget

The Last Meal Journey did not mean to ignore Veteran’s Day and would like to salute all of those who fought and still fight for our country. We thank them for their lives and their services to the greatest country - the U.S.A.

A last meal story that really makes you think about those breave enough to fight for everyone here at home: http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-hastings12-2008may12,0,6240947.story

One cold way to enjoy your last meal… For a very very long time….

There is nothing like enjoying a fantastic dish and having the ability to relish that taste in your mouth for a few more minutes before the next course arrives. Well imagine enjoying that taste frozen in your mouth for the next 5,300 years! That is what happened to the Iceman found in the mountains north of Italy. His last meal consisted of unleavened bread made out of einkorn wheat, some plant like substance (a herb or green), and a small amount of meat. Definitely not a last meal to be envious of.

I wonder what the Iceman would have rather had if he knew the mountain hights he would reach in a few hours would be his final resting place. What final taste would you prefer frozen in your mouth for 5 thousand years?

Titanic Decision

If you knew the boat was sinking, all the life boats were filled, there was no hope for surivial and all there was left to do was have a great meal while you sink into the cold icy water - what are you going to order as the Titanic sinks?

A Ball Park Last Meal

In honor of the soon to be World Series Champion Philadelphia Phillies I am putting together a Ball Park Last Meal.

Appetizer: What is a ball game with out the crunch of peanut shells under your feet? There is nothing like the over salted, makes you want to buy a $5.00 soda or $7.00 beer, ball park peanuts.

Main Course: Everyone probably thinks that I am going to choose that ball park staple, the all beef hot dog with everything on it or the Philadelphia favorite Cheesestake with provolone and onions, but they would be wrong. My Ball Park Last Meal main course comes from Planet Hoagie in Ashburn Alley: a chicken cutlet hoagie, with sharp provolone, and broccoli rabe on a Sarcone’s seeded roll (http://www.sarconesdeli.com/). If you ever get a chance to go to the bakery or one of their delis, you MUST try a sandwich or a loaf of their bread – the best bread I have ever tasted!

Desert: Cracker Jacks are sweet enough to be considered a desert, but I am going with vanilla chocolate swirl ice cream in the little baseball helmet.

Next season when you are the ball park, try my Ball Park Last Meal and tell me what you think. I am positive you will enjoy not only the future World Series Champs but the meal that I just put together for your gastro pleasure.