Sense of Taste

The Last Meal

The sense of taste is the most powerful of them all. We all have food related memories. One could be transported to a much happier place, just by biting into a plump, juicy orange. If there is one thing that all cultures have in common, it's a strong culinary tradition.

In the United States, right before their execution, death row inmates have the chance at one last meal; one that is totally up to them. Professional chefs like to play a game called "the last meal" in which they describe their own last death row meal; one final chance to eat like a king or queen. For the most part, however, chefs do not pick an elaborate or elegant meal, akin to one found on their restaurant menus. Rather, they choose something simple, a comfort food, or a meal mom would often make when they were a child.

My last meal would be a simple one, as well. I would start with the Colonel's fried chicken (also a popular choice amongst professional chefs). My friends would say that I have an unhealthy addiction to KFC and I probably do agree with them. I often joke that, one of those secret 11 herbs and spices must be crack. KFC is a perfect balance of crispy, greasy, juicy goodness. For a second course, I would pick a meal of fried hilsa fish, caramelized onions, and plain white rice, with it have to be prepared by my Aunt Barbara from Queens, NY. The dish is arguably the national dish of Bangladesh. The hilsa is an incredibly flavourful fish; it has this incredible bold salty flavour, which marries well with the traditional spices it is prepared with, turmeric and chili powder. To complement the first course, the hilsa or ilish has a scrumptious oilyness. The onions balance things out by adding a nice rich, sweet accent. And the rice...well I wouldn't be Bengali without it. The condition that it has to be made by Aunt Barbara stems from the fact that she is the best cook I have ever known. You can really taste her hard work and dedication in each bite. It also triggers some of my happier times of my childhood, those beautiful summers spent in New York.

What would your last meal be?

Famous food industry heavyweights discuss their death row meal (around the 7:00 minute mark).