FEMALE. 29 years old. PR living in Orange County, California

i would want all the positive influences in my life to be present - family and friends. i would want the peace of letting any anxiety, regret or doubt release from my heart. i would want to get full on plates of love and faith, generosity and kindness. i would want to feel satisfied that i had done meaningful work in my life, created spiritual partnerships with the many beautiful people i shared time with and raised intelligent and conscious children who carried on the legacy of strength and joy that i received from my parents.

MALE. 30 Years Old. Camera operator living in los angeles. Born In canoga Park, California, USA

For my last supper I would have all of my family and close friends gathered together at my house. We would eat all of my wife’s finest chicken based meals. Along with the chicken there would be pizza, Mexican food, turkey burgers, ice cream, beer, and soda. We would stay up all night talking about how good life is, what great things I accomplished, and laughing at all my faults and mistakes I had made.
Along with the talk, there would be plenty of time for games. The fun family gathering games like UNO attack, Scrabble, Guesstures, Pit, Remote Possibilities, Catch Phrase, and of course poker, Texas no limit Hold’em style. Of course, besides the games, we would watch the L.A. Lakers and Kansas City Chiefs on TV.
For the Lakers, we would see them return to glory as they win their 15th championship, this time over the Boston Celtics in a game seven. Derek Fisher would hit the winning shot as the buzzer sounds at the Staples Center. Once the excitement of the Lakers championship subsides, we would put in the DVD documenting the Chiefs past season. At the end of the DVD, we would again watch how the Chiefs won their 2nd Superbowl.
Once the morning light begins to peak over the mountains to signify the start of a new day and the end of my time, I would say my farewells to friends and family. Everyone would leave except for my wife, Michele. I would spend the rest of my time with her expressing to her my love and passion. That would make for a great goodbye.

FEMALE. 30 years old. Film Maker living in los angeles. Born in Niles, MI, USA

I think I would love to have back the dinners from my childhood, without the meat though. We would have the entire extended family around my grandmother's table and she would cook all the veggies my sister and I would pick for her that afternoon. I would definitely add all my family and friends to the table.

We'd eat fresh green beans, fried dandelions, moral mushrooms, potatoes, fried squash, off the vine cherry tomatoes and a vegetarian roast to replace the meat; all with sweet tea and milk to wash it down. And I would add the lasagna my parents would make together (again veggie style instead); something I can never have again. It was one of the things they did really well together. Then, strawberry shortcake for dessert. Yes, yes indeed.

FEMALE. 23 years old. Editor living in eagle rock. Born in Joliet, Illinois.

For my last supper I want some mashed potatoes, pizza, stuffed shells, chicken parmesan
and taco bell with a few close people in my life
I wouldn't want it to be too big of a party and feast so that it wouldn't be so hard for me accept the fact that I'm dying.

FEMALE. 26 years old. Writer/producer living in los angeles. Born in Taiwan

What a coincidence you say last supper because I'm actually doing a last supper (without the dying part) in January of next year. I'm also addicted to food. And I've decided to go on a raw food diet because I want to be more healthy and have more energy. So I've already given this a lot of thought. I'm currently filming a documentary about eating all my favorite foods for the last time and then I will quit cold turkey (no pun intended) and document my raw food diet for a year---assuming I last that long, who knows, I have my friends and family wagering on how long I'll last... 100% raw meaning nothing cooked over 105 degrees and nothing processed, no raw meat, no dairy, no eggs, all organic...

My last supper would be a bowl of Taiwanese beef noodle soup because I'm from Taiwan and it's in ingrained in my DNA to I love a hot steaming bowl of noodles...

MALE. 48 years old. Musician living in Hollywood. Born in London, England

About fifty metres from the gently lapping, moonlit ocean, a splendid house sits, with ample, cleverly designed out-door areas leading onto the beach. The dining area is neither indoors nor out, strictly speaking, but a little of both, apparently. The indoor part is where the piano is, naturally.

A perfect martini would be essential, smoked trout salad, fresh oysters, octopus carparccio, grilled sardines and prosciutto/parmagiano dates would be on the appetizer menu, along with Veuve and Gavi di Gavi in the beverage division. Perhaps one of those tiny soups as well. Pastas will include penne arrabiatta, spinach and ricotta gnudi and something with clams and mussels.

Striped sea bass will be grilled whole and served with sauteed spinachi, and Dover sole will be an option, but lobster won’t. In the meat division, there’ll be top steak fillets like at Vibrato, crispy duck cantonese style, and a few lamb cutlets with grilled portobella mushrooms, radicchio and aubergines. Reds would be a vintage Pomerol, an Ornellaia and a Masi Amerone.
Alfred Brendel might saunter over and breeze through a movement of a Schubert piano trio with Itzhak and one of his mates at some point, J.G. Ballard may be found chatting with D.H. Lawrence over a Cuban, as might David Mamet be spotted sharing a joke with Dom Irrera and Richard Prior, or indeed my old man and Benjamin Britten may well be conversing over a G&T. Guests would include family and friends, many of whom would perform something in some way. Oh, and there’d be a ping pong table somewhere, and a couple two tree dogs would be in residence.

Desserts? Erm… profiteroles, sorbets, berry soup with fruit, tiramisu, vanilla ice cream with esspresso on it. Cordon Bleu, Ornellaia Grapa, and Ramon Allones no. 2s to finish.
Massages would be provided on beds on the beach lit by candles and the moon, and the hot tub would be very large.

FEMALE. 54 years old. Horse Trainer living in Riverside california. Born in Maryland USA

It is just dusk in Yosemite. Snow is gently falling, and the Awahnee is resplendent as it garners the shimmer of the season. The Awahnee Hotel is steeped in traditional architecture. Rough-hewn beams run the full length of the ceiling. Polished cherry panels line the dining room walls. The immense table is set with Austrian crystal and simple, gold-rimmed plates. An enormous flower arrangement strikes a pose against the cathedral window overlooking the river. I welcome family and the friends who make them happy. I welcome peaceful, loving people to the dinner.

Here! I see dozens of Maryland Blue Crabs, and some sourdough from San Francisco. I see that marvelous Chinese Chicken Salad from Ports, that I was never able to recreate after Jacques died and took the receipe with him. A compilation of vegetables, Earl's specialty green bean, asparagus, green onion and mushrooms. Over there is the Seafood Chiffonade salad from Musso's, and some delicious creamed spinach. A mountainous fruit salad, fresh and unladen with sauce stands ready. Lyn's corned beef and cabbage, Mom's spahgetti, Ear's fried chicken, Roger's popovers, and some prime rib - yes from Lawry's - and then dessert, made by Michael, of course. And, yes, some coffee, also made by Michael with real cream and with a touch of Baileys.

All my 4-legged friends will be in their barn. Paul, Trust, and Wood, and all the cats of my life. Everyone will have more than enough to eat. Everyone will be warm and comfortable, and marvel at the presence of a scare moment in life where all is serene.

FEMALE. 25 years old. Musician/artist living in Venice California.

I suppose it would depend on why it would be my last supper...Because I was dying? Because it was the end of the world? Because I was moving to Mars and people on Mars don't need to eat? Because I was having my stomach replaced with a garbage disposal and my tongue replaced with a slug?

Either way, it would be very simple and involve my friends and family sitting around laughing and making music. It would be a perfect day, somewhere on some rolling hills with trees. The mountains and ocean would be both sparkling like diamonds and sapphires. We would be laying watching the clouds.

Now the food part is the hardest. Especially right now in my life when I am trying out different styles and approaches to eating. Lately I have been eating a lot of raw food, which I find absolutely amazing. But, it does lack some certain qualities (of course) that can make it a little boring after a while. I suppose the food wouldn't be the most important part of the supper because I wouldn't want to take away from the essence of the gathering: friendship and love.

I think a bottle of very good red wine and the crispiest, juiciest apples anyone has ever tasted. We'd eat our apples and all fall back on the grass staring up at the sky, watching it change from blueberry blue to a deep plum, and then liquorice black. The stars would start to fall, like little droplets, into our mouths.

MALE. 27 years Old. Producer/Writer living in Burbank. Born in Utah

At this table I'm here and so are my regrets. All of you, and we're eating food that is completely without taste. The texture is ok, it's fine to eat, but it's nothing. It fills my stomach and satisfies me and I eat it in tiny little bites as I avoid eye contact with all of you, my regrets. It's mostly silent and painstakingly uncomfortable - how can it not be? - but it's ok because it's cleansing and we all know that when I'm done my stomach will be full and I'll be tired and longing for sleep. I'm not going to get into details here, but I'll be content with the words we've shared, knowing that as I go I might not make any more sense to you but at least the air will be clear. Maybe you won't be happy but at least you'll understand, and know that I'm sorry and I wish things could have turned out differently.

FEMALE. 60 years old. UPM living in New York. Born in New York

I've noticed this "Last Supper" concept becoming ubiquitous internet fodder.

I do enjoy it, but have nothing interesting to say, having lost interest in cooking and food.

I'd just buy whatever frozen TV dinner is on sale. One can get used to anything. I have.

MALE. 36 years old. Line Producer in living in Los Angeles. Born in California, USA

Jeeze, I don’t know. The meal is pretty easy though. My appetizer would be lobster bisque soup. For the main course I would have filet mignon with béarnaise sauce, asparagus and a baked potato with all the fixens. For dessert I think I would have cheesecake.

As far as with whom and in what time period, that’s a little more complicated. First of all, the time period doesn’t matter to me at all. It’s more about the company. And this might sound a little corny, but I think it would just have to be with my family. My mother, father and sister. The caveat being, my mom would be healthy. Since the cancer, she doesn’t really eat. She not only doesn’t have the appetite, but it’s just hard for her to eat now (we have to cut her food, etc, etc). I miss the good meals we used to all have together. Anyway, that probably sounds dumb but that’s all I would really want.

MALE. 31 years old. Freelance in TV industry living in los Angeles. Born in California, raised in Ohio

I'm not that creative and it took me a long time to think of favorite foods, especially b/c I'm burnt out on things like lasagna, and spaghetti, really. I like many different types of food, so it's hard. Anyway, my ideal last dinner would be with my future wife or girlfriend at a private restaurant secluded in the mountains overlooking an ocean or a lake (e.g. Lake Como, Italy). The meal would have a small garden salad to start, chicago style deep dish pizza with onions, green peppers, pepperoni, mushrooms, proscuotto, and the finest mozzarella. Peach cobbler or apple cobbler with ice cream for dessert. To drink, wine, grape juice, and creme soda (orange or red). During the meal, I'd want to hear a mix cd of all of our favorite songs.

This is a hard question to answer - there's so many foods, so many settings, and much music to pick from it's crazy.

MALE. 30 something. Producer/creator/director/artist living in NY. Born in Japan

Nice.
But I guess there is no reason why this should be a Last Supper.
We can endeavor to make it every supper.
Peace

MALE. 26 years old. Story producer living in Hollywood. Born in Florida, USA

Given the hypothetical situation of knowing the cosmic fate of one’s own demise, I can come up with two situations which would unfold. The first would be the reality; painstakingly watching the seconds tick away, while beads of sweat trickle down my forehead. Like a nervous patient in a doctor’s office, I would wait for the dreaded hour of my passing. My anxiety would win against my patience and willing acceptance.

The second situation would be how I would like to spend my final moments. I would want it to be serene and peaceful. A perfect example would be watching the magnificent sunset over the gulf in Key West -close enough to have an endless view and smell the cool salty breeze. A small table covered with a simple white cloth would border the sandy beach.

Dinner would be one of my favorites. A rare sirloin steak, coupled with a baked potato and juicy vegetables. There would be a wide assortment of cabernet of my own selection.

I would ask my parents to join me in my dinner. Both of them were around for my birth, so it would seem appropriate that they stick around for the end. I would want to know if my life was justified and they would be the two people who could give me the honest answer. Though I feel I would be letting them down by not continuing past the evening, they would be the only people I’d feel comfortable asking, “Did I do good? Did I live an enriched and fulfilling life? Do I make you proud?”

Knowing the answer to those questions which would make the evening worthwhile for me, no matter what the location, food or atmosphere would be.

MALE. 27 years Old. TV editor living in Burbank. Born in Maryland, USA.

Hmmm. Why, that's a very interesting question you have there......

And, of course being severely hung over as I am, I will probably be giving you a very interesting answer...

I would probably want to have a good huge Korean dinner (one of those meals where food keeps getting dished out to you, even after you're done). I would probably want to go back to an old Korean restaurant that I was in when I was in Korea called Dae Won Gok--a restaurant where all the tables are in these little huts way up in the mountainside. Who would be there? Just my friends here and now. I think those are the only people I've ever had interest in hanging out with and talking to. (Yes, that DEFINITELY includes you.)

FEMALE. 21 Years Old. Musician/Singer living in Texas. Born in London, England

Tis' a very difficult question. After thinking about it, I think I found my answer.....

I would go with comfort over gourmet.

The Setting: I would be sitting at a wicker table with wicker chairs, out in the middle of the english countryside, underneath an old wooden gazebo that is crawling with vines of honeysuckle. It would be close to sunset as well.

The Person: I person I would want to be eating this last meal with, would be Todd Abels.

The Food: I would start by having some Cream of Wheat with country crock butter like mt grandma used to make me when I was a kid and had trouble sleeping. Then I would have wheat toast cut into strips, with baked beans poured over them. I would keep a few strips aside, so that I could dip them into my hard boiled egg being held by an egg holder, with the yoke still runny, because thats what my mom would make me when I was little.I would also have a cooked tomato on the side because it reminds me of my dad.Then I would enjoy a warm bowl of custard, because that was my favourite snack when I went to montesorri school. All of this would be eaten while drinking a FABULOUS cappuccino, and a glass of Aqualibra on the side.

Last but not least, I would eat a peice of my grandma;s coconut cake, because it is my favourite cake in the world, and she makes it for me every thanksgiving and christmas.That to me would be the perfect last meal/ending to my life. That to me is my ideal idea of home and comfort. I could ask for nothing more.

MALE. 36 Years Old. Photographer living in Los Angeles

mexican and margaritas in an old mexican cocina/cantina overlooking the gulf with my good friends and an unlimited flow of tequila! with a great mariachi band playing all our favorite songs...

Last Supper Study

I'm addicted to food. That said, I wondered to myself what would I eat if I only had one last meal.

Then I wondered to myself what would be the setting? Where would I eat it? What order would I eat said food? Who would be there? There are no rules. ANYWHERE, with ANYONE. ANYTIME, in ANY order. What would be your last supper?

HERE's MINE: I'd be dining with everyone I find fascinating. Andy warhol, the dalai lama, albert nobel, rene magritte, albert camus, jean paul sartre, dali, archaeologists, irving penn, david bailey, diane arbus, henri cartier-bresson, frieda kahlo, the coen brothers, my parents, my godfather, my friends, just to name a few… Every animal I've ever had would be in a barn outside. We'd be in an intimate dining hall with a large rectangular wooden table. There would be candles. Cirque du soleil would be performing up close. There would be magicians doing magic and every band I ever loved would do a set. Wisteria would be hanging outside on a huge front porch that has an outdoor fireplace and comfy couches and chairs and chases. There would be a few wicker rocking chairs too because I had one on my front porch when I was a kid and I loved to rock in it.

I would start with oysters. Every type. All sorts of dipping sauce would be there. Then crab cakes and crab legs. Bread of all sorts, rosemary, olive, sourdough, wheat, and pumperknickle with sweet butter as well as a chive spread. French onion soup with a huge crouton and melted cheese. Pastas. rigatoni, penne, linguine, spaghetti, tortellini, ravioli with all types of sauces marinara, pesto, vodka, Bolognese, butter sauces! Meatballs! I'd have the lasagna I cook too. Pizza as appetizers.

Hummus & pita bread. A honey, curry & soy sauce baked chicken, mac & cheese. Prime rib from lauwrys & my dad's popovers. I'd have cedar plank salmon and sauteed kale. Mashed potatoes & gravy. A plethora of salads: potato, cole slaw, mixed greens, endive and walnut with blue cheese, white beans, macaroni salad and all the dressings imaginable.

To drink there would be champagne, the oldest and best red wines. Kronenbourg on tap in ice cold glasses. Martini's and scotches, gin and tonics (Hendricks preferably), bloody marys ... Roman Allones cigars.

CHEESE from everywhere for dessert. With quince on the side. Fig marmalade. Champagne grapes and concord grapes. Ginger bread and the banana bread my mom would make. A million types of sorbet and the best coffees in the world. Then there would be a renewed hunger and breakfast would come. Huevos rancheros, boiled eggs, english breakfast with the juiciest sausages and Canadian bacon. Pancakes and waffles with any topping you want. Fresh squeezed OJ and apple juice and carrot juice and pineapple juice.

Laughter would fill the room. sharing stories and moments and journeys and pictures. Taking infinite pictures. Unending kisses and love. Sweet sighs and full bellies. Love in everyone's eyes and spirits. This would be my last supper. What's yours?