Wednesday, December 08, 2004

An old story, still interesting, about the prep for John Wayne Gacy's last meal....from the Suburban Chicago News...

Cook: No honor in preparing last meal

By Mark Feldmann

Crest Hill -- Bill Deloria had no stomach for cooking the last meal served to convicted serial killer John Wayne Gacy.

"I don't think it's an honor," said Deloria, a gourmet-trained chef who prepared most of Gacy's last supper at Catcher's Tap in Crest Hill. "You just do it," he said. "I'd rather not be associated with that guy in any way."

But the bar-restaurant at 1723 N. Center St. got associated Sunday afternoon when Illinois Department of Corrections officials called owner Rusty Jessee and placed an order. They wanted a bucket of fried chicken, some deep-fried shrimp, french fries and fresh strawberries.

"When someone calls, you do your best to fill the order," said Jessee about 6:30 Monday, about 6 1/2 hours before Gacy was put to death by lethal injection. "We try to make anything anyone calls for. Actually, I'd be scared not to make it."

Jessee and Deloria took to the kitchen late Monday afternoon. They deep-fried about a dozen shrimp. "Our extra-large dinner," Jessee said. Then they hulled and washed a pound of strawberries. Those went into a basket.

After those preparations, Jessee went out and bought a bucket of Original Recipe chicken from a nearby Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant. At 5:45 p.m. Monday, a corrections official in plainclothes in a plain car picked up the food from the tavern, Jessee said. Everything went like clockwork.

"I didn't want to screw anything up," Jessee said. "Even if it was for a condemned killer." Gacy's last repast cost state taxpayers $18.26. The shrimp dinner was $7.95, the french fries $1, strawberries $2. The bucket of chicken was $6.51. Tax was 80 cents.

Jessee said the corrections official gave him a 20-dollar bill and told him to keep the change. Jessee has thought about making shrimp, fries and strawberries a Gacy Special.

"Food to die for," he said with a laugh. At least Gacy got his money's worth, said Deloria, who prepares gourmet food at the tavern three days a week. "He got more than he deserved," Deloria said. "At least I won't hear any complaints."

Gacy's last meal included shrimp.