Wednesday, June 11, 2025

Paper #1: The Last Best Meal

 


English 1113

Paper #1: The Last Best Meal

INTRO: In a 2024 article from the food magazine, The Tasting Table, many chefs discussed what they wanted their last meal on Earth to be (hypothetically, of course). One interesting meal came from the famous French chef, Jacques Pepin: “In an interview with Anthony Bourdain back in 2015, the famed cook verified that his last meal would include a crusty French baguette slathered with a rich, creamy butter. But those aren't the only ingredients for Pépin's final meal. They also include those nearest and dearest to him enjoying that same meal together deep into the night” (Richmond).

PROMPT: For your first conversation paper, I want you to play the same game, and discuss what you would plan for your last, perfect meal on Earth. It can be anything, large or small, cheap or expensive, in Ada or in some other country, but try to explain why this food matters so much to you (answering the question, why does it matter). Explain when you first had it, or any memories/nostalgia you have about the meal, and what you taste, feel, or experience whenever you have it. You can also discuss what would make the meal more enjoyable—certain people (or no one at all), a certain location, a certain time of day, etc. In short, try to make us understand what you eat when you eat this food, and what this dish means to you emotionally, too.

REQUIREMENTS: This a conversation paper, so you’re responding to many of the ideas we’ve encountered in our essays, most of which are about the importance of food, culture, and experience. So to help us appreciate your experience, quote from AT LEAST TWO essays in the book that you can respond to say, “you see, it’s something like this,” or “another way to explain what I’m feeling is this…” When  you use an essay in your paper, be sure to INTRODUCE the author and the essay, quote a significant passage (not too long), cite the page number after the quote, and then respond to the quote (why you quoted it, what it means, what you want us to understand about it, etc).

PAGES/DUE DATE: The essay should be AT LEAST 3 pages double spaced, but you can do more. As the syllabus states, it is also due NEXT Thursday, June 19th, and there is no class that day (since it’s a holiday). So all you have to do is e-mail me the essay by 5pm at jgrasso@ecok.edu. And let me know if you have any questions beforehand!

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