The First Last Meal: Part One – What Beasy’s brought to mind

I was sitting at Beasy’s on the Creek in Ashland, Oregon when the idea came to me.

We had tried to eat there once before, but had arrived without reservations during the dinner rush on a Friday night. My wife and I, and numerous close friends have worked in the industry, so we knew our expectations were a little high. Still, the reception was a little cooler than we would have liked. We ended up at Martino’s that night, and enjoyed a very nice meal before seeing Troilus and Cressida at the Shakespeare Festival.

So, when we were celebrating our thirtieth anniversary with a trip to see The Comedy of Errors, we called ahead. This time, my expectations were actually a little low. But the greeting, seating, serving, presentation, and cooking were all worthy of the location, reputation, and atmosphere Beasy’s has put together. My enthusiasm for the crab cakes were second only to the exuberance of our waitperson. The Inca Inca sauce with my chicken and prawns was everything she’d promised, and the entire meal was a delight.

But my purpose here isn’t to write a review of Beasy’s (nor of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival's production of The Comedy of Errors, which was also excellent) . What I want to explain is the idea that came to me while there.

I’m launching a new blog. “Death Pastor’s Last Meals.” I’m hoping to focus my particular brand of fatalism on the oft-stated but rarely applied claim, “Life is too short for boring food.” Granted, any number of hot sauces in my pantry would make the most insipid experience a little livelier. Thus, I sympathize with those who carry their own favorites along, just in case. I also acknowledge that sometimes routine, bland, and even poorly prepared meals are redeemed by the atmosphere, staff, view, or other factors that can raise bad food to bold heights. But in the interest of fostering a more interesting exploration of the gustatory stimuli we were designed to enjoy, this space will allow me to discuss not only the range of restaurants we encounter, but also some of the recipes, techniques, and ingredients that go into a more adventurous and economical pursuit in our own homes.

So, the inspiration came to me at a table in Beasy’s. And yet, this new blog would not exist if it were not for a lesson I learned over this past week. Those of you familiar with our current circumstances can probably guess where this is going. But the chain of events struck me as intentionally instructive (especially since I don’t believe in coincidences—just Divine appointments). So, stay tuned for the more important part of this introductory post—coming tomorrow.