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Despots, Dictators, Degenerates and Delinquents – What Delicacies Do they Devour ?
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Music – “Der Führer’s Face (feat. Oliver Wallace)” from Spike Jones & His City Slickers:mistaken Music by Spike Jones & His City Slickers. Released: 2009
It’s true. Saints and sinners, despots and dictators: they all have at least two things in common. Eating and death (some have the IRS to contend with as well) What, pray tell, are the food preferences of evil people? Gill Partington has addressed this issue tongue-in-cheek in his book “The Axis of Evil Cookbook”, an amusing book of recipes thought to reflect the food cravings of the despots and dictators in our world.
“The Axis of Evil Cookbook” by Gill Partington
So, what was Saddam Hussein’s favourite food? Well, Partington has suggested several possibilities in his book, including ”Makhlama” (spicy spinach omelette), and “Mnazellah” (a type of Iraqi goulash). Saddam led a pretty luxurious life, at least, until the fall of his regime. Gone was barbequed Gazelle, steaks and chicken. After his capture, he supposedly had to adjust to his new surroundings and was alleged to have taken a particular liking to Doritos corn chips, eating a family sized bag in minutes.
“Bring me a case of Doritos corn chips ASAP!” (Photo Credit: http://www.dailymail.co.uk)
Also high on his list was
Raisin Bran
and
Hamburgers
and
fries
filled up his last days.
Despite his hatred of the Western world, it appears that Osama Bin Laden had a penchant for Pepsi, Coke and Nesquik. What better symbols are there of the Western world than this trilogy? Seems that you can make exceptions when you’re a despot: you can like their beverages but dislike their democratic ways.
Was Nesquik a favorite beverage of Osama Bin Laden? (Photo Credit: caloriecount.about.com)
Fidel Castro’s tastes tend to lobster, foie gras, turtle soup and turkey, according to Partington.
“Well, it’s not foie gras, but I’ll eat it anyway” (Photo Credit: http://www.jaredthenyctourguide.com)
Muammar Al-Qaddaffi of Libya liked Stuffed Peppers and Vegetable Couscous.
“An order of stuffed peppers to go” (Photo Credit: http://www.mirror.co.uk)
President Assad of Syria favored donuts.(according to Partington, a cousin of Assad‘s own’s a Dunkin‘ Donuts. There are Dunkin‘ Donut franchises in Syria, however, I was unable to locate any information to confirm or deny that one of Assad‘s cousins owns one).
Hitler had a sweet tooth, especially for cakes (Photo Credit: http://www.dailymail.co.uk)
Hitler
liked
sweets
, especially
cakes
dripping with whipped cream. North Korean ruler
Kim Jong-il
had a passion for
sushi
.
“Kim Jong-il demands take-out sushi, NOW!” (Photo Credit: http://www.npr.org)
Ever wondered what
Attila the Hun
liked to eat? Well, according to
Don Abel
, author of “
Cooking with the Bad Guy’s
, “
Rabbit in Yogurt
” and “
Noodle Pudding
” were on his list of favourites.
“Cooking with the Bad Guys” by Don Abel
The
Grand Inquisitor
in Spain (1487),
Tomas de Torquemada
liked “
Potatoes with Garlic Mayonnaise
” and “
Sponge Cake with Almonds
”.
Did Jack the Ripper really fancy “Savory Steak and Kidney Pie” and “Cleveland Street Bubble and Squeak”. We’ll never know.
Was Jack the Ripper fond of Cleveland Street Bubble and Squeak? (Photo Credit: http://www.dailymail.co.uk)
Tough guy Al Capone had a soft spot for “Mom’s Baked Lasagna” (Photo Credit: weblogs.baltimoresun.com)
Abel, in his book “Cooking with the Bad Guys” suggests that even the ruthless
Al Capone
had a soft spot for “
Mom’s Baked Lasagna
”, and a nice bowl of “
Raspberry Italian Ice
” to finish off a meal.
Billy the Kid, the legendary bad guy in the Southwest, spent much of life in New Mexico. According to Lynn Nusom, in his book “Billy the Kid Cook Book”, the debate about Billy the Kid persists, despite the fact that he was tried and hung in Mesilla, New Mexico, on May 13th, 1881.
“Billy the Kid Cook Book” by Lynn Nusom
Nusom says that some claim that he was “…a bandit, hoodlum and murderer”, yet others see him as “…a cowboy and a hero”. Some of the foods Billy might have eaten include “
Huevos Rancheros
”, “
Hacienda Stew
”, “
Red Eye Gravy
”,and “
Crookneck Squash Soup
”.
Huevos Rancheros might have been a favourite of bad boy Billy the Kid (Photo Credit: cookandbemerry.com)
All in all, even the bad guys have to eat and there is apparently enough fascination with their appetites and gastronomic preferences that several books have been published about them. “What the Great Ate – A Curious History of Food & Fame”, by Matthew Jacob and Mark Jacob, includes snippets of the food preferences of hundreds of better known characters, from Adam and Eve to Frank Zappa. It should be noted, however, that this book is mostly about the good guys, although a few tyrants are mentioned.
So, there you have it. From despots to dictators and degenerates to delinquents, all you wanted to know about the dietary preferences of the truly bad guys.
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