My Last Supper

by Jay Rayner

'Hilarious, informative, enlightening, instructive ... It's the funniest book I've read all year' - Chris EvansYou're About to Die. What Would Your Final Meal Be?This question has long troubled Jay Rayner. But why wait for death? Why not eat your 'last meal' now, when you can enjoy it? So, he had a simple he would embark on a journey through his life in food in pursuit of the meal to end all meals. It's a quest that takes him from necking oysters on the Louisiana shoreline to forking away the finest French pastries in Tokyo, and from his earliest memories of snails in garlic butter, through multiple pig-based banquets, to the unforgettable final meal itself. This is the story of one hungry man, in eight courses.'Witty, wise, and, obviously, delicious.' Guardian'A raucous, joyous celebration of life.' Irish Times

Genres: Nonfiction, Food, Audiobook, Memoir, Biography, Cooking, Humor

304 pages, Paperback

First published September 5, 2019

About the author

Jay Rayner is a British journalist, writer and broadcaster born in 1966.

Reviews

[Petra X]

Recovering from surgery in Cancun, this seemed ideal - a combination of food, humour and memoir. But... I had surgery on my mouth and it's making me laugh too hard and want to eat (a lot), both of which are painful. But the book is so good, I can't put it down.

Jay Rayner is exactly the same in print as he is on the UK Masterchef - knowledgeable, loud, commanding, iconoclastic and very funny.

[K.J. Charles]

The journo/food writer plans what his ideal last meal would be, which involves both thinking about his past and what food has meant to him, and also trying out different types of the food in question, because your ideal meal isn't necessarily about the most expensive version but about what means most to you. Particularly good is his decision on one course that isn't revealed till the end--no spoilers but what he chose to serve was both surprising and absolutely obvious. Nice.

It's about food, and the past, and a meditation on death and what that means about life, plus the pork belly recipe looks amazing. Highly entertaining and surprisingly moving.

[Sally · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this. Loved it. I have enjoyed Jay Rayner's restaurant reviews and other journalism but this is the first of his books that I've read. He designs his perfect last supper, and in the process auditions many, many possibilities. The Bread, the butter, the meat, the salad, the chips, the wine.

Part food tour, part memoir, it's an exploration of how food - and eating - can help make us who and what we are. Why certain flavours evoke memories and feelings. Of how we remember the first 'perfect' example of a particular food.

(For me, no chips will compare to the ones my Dad used to make on a Saturday night, served with Cumberland sausage or a perfect fried egg of the kind I've never been able to cook for myself. Perfect chips died with him in 2018, but I can smell them still. I first *really* tasted mushrooms, which I'd eaten for years, at the age of 23 at a hotel in the Scottish Highlands, where they came with my breakfast. 'What did you do to these?' I asked. 'Butter', was the reply. 'Lots of butter, slow heat'. Yes, I could taste butter but that was the first time I tasted the full depth of the mushroom and it's stayed with me since.)

The food explorations in this book are insanely extravagant - some will object to that. I don't. If one has money then there are worse ways of using it than to pay the wages of people who produce excellent ingredients and excellent cooking. Some of the foods sound delicious. Others not so much (I don't like offal, never have, never will, and will leave it to those who do). I have never had snails or oysters but now I kind of want to try.

But the memoir sections make the book. His parents. His friends, especially the one to whom the book is dedicated. His wife, who he clearly adores. It's clear that as well as being clever, witty, knowledgeable, compassionate and decent, Jay Rayner can be an insufferable show off and a complete know all. I don't care. This book (I had the audio version) made me like him even more and wish I could have him round for dinner. (Although I'd probably be too nervous to cook!)

[Dylan Kakoulli · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun, frank and full of food chatter -I mean, what’s not to love!

My Last Supper is raucous recipe of a read; part food tour, homemade recipes and anecdotal memoir. It is both a hilarious and poignant exploration of how food -both the cooking and the eating, make and shape who we are. It is a celebration of flavours and the memories and feelings they evoke. And most importantly, about the connections and celebrations that come alongside those delicious meals!

3.5

[Don Jimmy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listened to this and loved it. Jay takes us through his "last meal", what he would have for each course and why. Favourite Food and memoir chucked together to create a fabulous, humorous and at times poignant read

[Tim Reisner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is as close to pure pleasure as reading gets for me. The subject matter is close to my heart - food. The style is witty with a heart - full of honesty and close human observation. The author is aware of his talents as a writer, with just enough self-deprecation to keep you from disliking him.

Jay Rayner does a marvelous job of taking us through what would be, for him, the perfect final meal and does so in a way that endears you to him. I can imagine him being quite difficult to manage in reality; a big person with big opinions. But on the page, he's immensely likeable.

[Laura Spira · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've never read anything else by Jay Rayner, other than his restaurant reviews which are always entertaining but rarely make me want to eat at any of the places he praises. This book is similarly entertaining, based around the idea of constructing his own last supper - part memoir, part lots of food information with the occasional recipe thrown in. I wouldn't want to eat any of the foods he enjoys but his enthusiasm makes a good read.

[Cormac Healy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to be honest, I have never particularly enjoyed Jay Rayner when I see him on TV. Part of this is that my Mum bloody loves him and I enjoy being contrarian, and part is because in general food critics are about as insufferable as it gets. But Jay has won me over with this book.

The premise is pretty simple; he is creating his death-row meal in advance, with the full intention of enjoying it while he can. We go on a journey as he samples the best ingredients for his meal, and there are some charming anecdotes along the way.

One of my favourite bits about the book is that he also puts in a playlist, the soundtrack for the meal, and he writes as well and confidently about music as he does about food.

If you enjoy food I don't really think you could dislike this book. You might disagree with him on some things (I will never be convinced that sparkling water should be allowed anywhere near my mouth) but you will enjoy the journey.

4.5/5, rounded up because I feel bad for abusing him on the telly all these years.

[Victor Porras · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was surprised by the wit, the meticulous detail, and the emotional warmth throughout this book. I only picked it up because Jay was giving a talk at my company, so I wasn't expecting much, but I'm very glad I did. It's a love letter to good food as well as a touching memoir. It was also hilarious.

[Sammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was fun. And made me hungry. And even contained a couple of recipes that sound yummy.

Still don't fancy snails though. Sorry Jay.

[Lesley Freeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A man after my own heart (well, except the oysters and snails). Thank you Jay Rayner. It was a joy.

[Bob · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fabulous book, engagingly written and guaranteed to give you an appetite. Salut to you Jay, my brother from another mother. But you're wrong about the Negronis...

[Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

An entertaining memoir through the focus of dining. Full of charming and funny anecdotes with a streak of sincerity throughout.

[starduest · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to the audiobook but can't explain why I didn't enjoy it as much as I wanted to. I love Jay Rayner on Masterchef, enjoy his reviews and love his podcast. Is it because Rayner the audiobook narrator doesn't sound as lively or "real" as Rayner the podcast host? Or because his memoir was about his food memories, not mine? Or because I couldn't relate to the music described and have little interest in having recipes read out to me? Regardless, I'm definitely steering clear of audiobooks of non-fiction as my experience with them have been found wanting even though I'm near evangelical about audiobooks for fiction writing

[Vera Naamani · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to this book. I thought it was a generally funny and lighthearted book, which was exactly what I was hoping for. I love reading about food and the culinary world and this book did not disappoint. I really enjoyed his descriptions and his obvious love of food.
I found the bits on music a bit less interesting, but they were fun as well.
Over all I thought it was a really enjoyable book.

[Motherbooker · Rating 4 out of 5]

The question of the last meal is something that food critic Jay Rayner has been asked more than any other. So, he decided to write a book about it. He would pick the components of his final meal, source the best ingredients, and sit down with his closest friends to enjoy it. The end result is a book that is part autobiography, part recipe book, and food history. Anybody familiar with Rayner's writing will see his usual wit and expert use of the English language. There is something effortless and casual about his style but it has a poetry to it. He is funny and passionate about his subject. It makes the more technical elements much easier to digest. This is the kind of food book that isn't exclusively written for people who love food but it will certainly help.

Each of Rayner's elements can be linked back to his personal history. This means that each chapter has something of a rambling feel as we skip between different periods of his life and his present quest to find the ingredients. Food is so tied up with family life that we see constant references to his childhood and his parents. This is not just a book about his final meal but about how food has shaped him. We see the defining moments of his life and how they link to what he ate or drank at the time. Meaning that this becomes an even more intimate look into a writer. It's a fantastic book that zips around one man's life and explains where his love of food came from. It is full of his life and his passion.

Although, that isn't to say that My Last Supper is just an autobiography in disguise. There is plenty of informative and interesting analysis of ingredients. Rayner searched for the best possible ingredients and spoke to plenty of people to design the best meal. He finds the best possible suppliers and explains exactly why those are the best. It is very much a book for anyone who loves cooking and is interested in food. However, it is all presented without an added air of pretension. Rayner is a writer enjoys eating but who can also see through a lot of the guff that goes with being a foodie these days. What you get is a simple look at the elements that make a meal. It's back-to-basics in a way but the basics just happen to be the very best.


My Last Supper is a fun experiment that turned into something much bigger than its basic premise. The simple act of planning a final meal turned into an in-depth look into what makes a meal and what makes a man. It is personal and intimate. It is also inspiring. Each course is accompanied by a recipe relating to that ingredient. They are some of Rayner's personal favourites and they will leave you wanting to recreate them as soon as possible. It is then followed by a song that will form the soundtrack for his final meal. As a jazz pianist, music is another important part of Rayner's life and cultivating the right kind of atmosphere is necessary for making his final meal the best it can be.

The reason that this book goes so far into his history, is that Rayner knows that it is an intensely personal experience. It perfectly encapsulates that feeling that certain foods can raise in us and how difficult it can be trying to share that with other people. As it also deals with the idea of mortality, there is something of life and legacy here. This is not just a book for people who love food but can be enjoyed by anyone. It is an intensely human book. It is full of passion, love, and family.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a food critic, Jay Rayner is often asked about the dishes that would make up his final meal, should he be about to shuffle off this mortal coil - a question he admits to having dodged many times over. However, it is one which has set him thinking over the years. He eventually decided to take the question and bit more seriously and consider the dishes that would take pride of place in his terminal banquet - and then give the whole concept a radical twist by putting together this feast without the need to wait for his demise.

In this book, Rayner takes us through the various courses that would make up his meal to end all meals, incorporating such delights as oysters, snails, pork, bread and more, and tells the story of his quest to visit restaurants and food producers the world over in pursuit of the finest examples of each of his dream dishes. What follows is a foodie's delight, as he delves not just into the dishes themselves, but the highs and lows of his search for the kind of perfection that makes his taste-buds sing.

But this book is also so much more. Woven into chapters that are headed by the foodstuffs he is focusing on for each course, there is a wealth of anecdotes and personal stories about his life, touching on his childhood, family, career as a journalist, and musical diversions, and it's all fascinating - in turns intriguing, humorous and deeply touching. These chapters also incorporate a very diverse playlist to accompany the banquet, and tasty recipes to try out yourself too. The book concludes with the account of Rayner's last meal surrounded by friends and family, with a very poignant thread that brought a tear to my eye.

I thoroughly enjoyed this audio book, especially since I am very interested in food and cookery, but there is also plenty here to entertain if you are not fixated on eating - although I defy you not to feel hungry as Rayner tells of one delicious morsel after another! His narration is natural and engaging too, which makes this very easy and relaxing to listen to. This was just my cup of tea, if you will pardon the refreshment pun!

[Robyn Roscoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jay Rayner is a journalist, food critic, and author who writes delightfully clever reviews and commentary about food, restaurants, and culture. Part Anthony Bourdain, part David Sedaris, he is honest and insightful, never shying away from mild to moderate deprecation of himself or others. I have read one other book by Rayner, but many other articles and posts from him, including his famous review of a famous Paris restaurant that was famously derided by the French.

In this book, Rayner sets out to develop a quintessential last meal for himself. Considering that famous last meals (i.e. for those about to be executed) are typically uninspiring or unreflective, Rayner posits that a last meal should reflect the life and personality of meal's designer, and so sets out to craft a menu for a last best meal for himself. Of course, it won't be his last, just a fantasy-made-real of a meal representing his life and loves and lessons learned.

As he explores the various courses and dishes, he tells his life stories that led to these menu choices. From his early experience with snails, his unusual (for a Jewish man) connection to and love of all things pork, and his adoration of salad, it becomes clear that he is not seeking the best of any of these items, but the best representation of his memories and life with each of them.

I enjoyed this thoroughly, especially his exploration of the various dishes and balancing of the best in the world with the best in his life. I especially enjoyed the chapters on snails and sparkling water. I also liked the inspiration for his book, considering the last meals of those infamous few for whom such things are documented.

PS: From the beginning, I kept pen and paper handy to document my own ideas for a last supper, or at least those foods/dishes that would be signatures or milestones for me. The list quickly became quite long. Like Rayner, while there are a few homemade faves (like mac and cheese or oatmeal cookies), many of mine come from meals and locations from childhood, most of which no longer exist.

[GM · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful read - can't believe I actually enjoyed a memoir! Learned more about food and got some recommendations for where to eat in London. Although I still have to say the bit I enjoyed most was the beginning where he highlighted some statistics about real Last Suppers. From Simon's bookshelf.

- A lot of themes explored. For instance, in the sparkling water chapter, he discusses 1) Sparkling Water and his obsession with it (obviously), 2) Me Too movement, 3) Plastic bottles and sustainability. Others included Nazi Germany
- Did not know pork belly could also be referred to as belly pork
- Re: Paris L’Escargot vs Allard vs London L’Escargot - Rayner leaned towards the London L’Escargot; wonder if this is bc the London one caters to his British tastes more or if he should have explored French cities other than Paris?
- Re: 5 Tastes of sweet, salt, bitter, sour, Unami (fat, pungent) - I actually always thought it was 酸甜苦辣咸 but turns out that is more of a Chinese medicine thing "五味适量，对五脏有补益作用；倘若 过量 ，则会打乱人体平衡，损伤脏器，招致疾病。"

“This leads to a basic truth: if you really want to do something about your carbon footprint, be dead. ‘There is a lot to be said for dying,’ Dr Kazer added. I thanked him for the thought.”

However, wish that there was slighttlyyyyy more editing involved

- Re: "Oles, short for Olympians” - should be Olympias not Olympians. If you search up Olympian Oysters you will get a bunch of news articles about Tokyo Olympics
- Shifting between Fahrenheit and Celsius, similarly between pork belly and belly pork

(3 for actual subject matter, 0.5 for the witty tone, and 0.5 for something different)

[Colin Murtagh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this. And to be fair, it's not really what I was expecting. I follow Rayners reviews online, so when this came out, I picked it up. It's advertised as Rayner trying to work out what he would have as his final meal, but it is so much more than that.
Thinking the last meal is wasted on the dying, he decides to have his now. As he works out what he would want to eat, he's also working out his life. Why a particular food brings a particular memory, why indeed his life turns out the way it has.
He talks of food, and trying to find his perfect food. The best bread, the best butter, the best pork, and where he travels to get them. At the same time he's also talking of his time at school being caught smoking dope, his time in a bath with a prostitute. He talks honestly and openly about his relationship with both food and his family. How it's shaped his life, and his career.
Interspersed through it all, are the odd recipes, so you can cook alongside him. Although I'm sure I wont be the only one that is a little disappointed he doesn't know how to cook chips. Alongside this is his ever present love of music, how he learned to play piano, how jazz finally clicked for him, and why he now has his own band.
Part travelogue, part memoir, part recipe book, this is the book of a man who has had a good life, and is not only aware of it, but also grateful for it.

[Carolyn Lochhead · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jay Rayner’s restaurant criticism, like his wider journalism, is always both fair and well-written, so I knew I was in safe hands with My Last Supper. It’s a good premise for a food writer: why waste your last meal on your final night on earth, when you’re unlikely to be in the frame of mind to enjoy it? Instead, Jay travels the world, piecing together the ingredients for this one special meal, and telling the stories behind each choice.

His investigations are multiple - what’s the best kind of oyster for this meal? The right bread? The most appropriate way to serve the inevitable pork? His conclusions are not always what you’d expect, being based as much on evoking nostalgia as on straightforward culinary quality. Occasionally I got a bit lost in the more detailed discussions on ingredients and preparation, preferring his more personal recollections about past meals, dishes and adventures - especially those involving his fabulous mother Claire, who taught me all I know about - well, everything.

Jay’s last supper sounds like a blast - though as a (mostly) vegetarian, I suspect I wouldn’t have been invited.

[Pep · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jay Rayner is a Jew who eats pork.

This is not really a spoiler, more the whole point of the book, right up until the denouement of the main course of his "Last Supper".

Which reflects his apparent lifelong desperate desire for attention (I wonder what his mother would have made of this (in fact, she probably caused it!) and general "**** you!" attitude.

He would probably agree with this, in fact, he effectively spends the whole book proclaiming this as his attitude, while throwing in several condemnations of those who carry it even further - Nazis and serial gropers being easy targets. I suppose he thinks that restricting himself to giving bastions of the culinary establishment bad reviews, and hosting an "anarchic" Radio 4 programme gives him a spot just a little down from the moral high ground he doesn't want to share with any sort of religion.

I can't deny it wasn't amusing in parts (I won't espouse the obvious culinary analogy) but (a less hackneyed analogy) it left me with a bad taste afterwards, a little like the over-priced and over-tannined French wines he predictably disses.

My wife enjoyed it though.

[Snoakes · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you were on death row, what would you choose for your final meal? As a food writer, Jay Rayner has been asked this many times. But he believes that such a meal is wasted on a condemned man - after all, who would have much of an appetite in those circumstances? And so he sets out to put together a last supper that he can enjoy now.
It's an obsessive quest for the finest of some of his favourite foods. He starts by going off in search of the best oysters, and doesn't stop until he's found the perfect dessert. No detail is left to chance - he even has to find the right butter for the right bread.
As well as the day job, he plays piano in a jazz quartet. The perfect excuse to put together a playlist of songs that have meant something special to him over the years. This is the music that will accompany this final meal.
Full of anecdotes, written with wit and a winning combination of self-obsession and self-deprecation, it's an entertaining read about one man's perfect meal. There are even a few recipes thrown into the mix.

[Kai · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3.5★) A book about last suppers and food that satisfies you like a delicious meal. I previously read Jay Rayner's Wasted Calories and Ruined Nights, and wasn't too impressed, but My Last Supper was thankfully better. If we could liken books to food, Wasted Calories was a pallid disappointing french fry, while My Last Supper was a hearty, satiating potato gratin. I went into the book expecting it to be about tasty food, but it was surprisingly more than just that. There was talk about our impending deaths and the preciousness of life, the ethics of eating animals, the environmental sustainability of food, and of course, very very tasty food, from oysters to butter to snails to bacon sandwiches to sparkling water to Mont Blanc. After reading this book about Jay Rayner's Last Supper, I'm severely tempted to have a last supper of my own too.

[Calvin Caulee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've loved Jay Rayner's work for quite sometime. Whether it was his food reviews, articles or appearances as a critic on food shows. He has that British wit and humour that sometimes food critics sorely lack because they take themselves too seriously.

This book is no exception, Rayner takes us on a culinary journey with this part foodie/memoir book. He transports the reader to a world where food reigns over every experience, memories and adventures. Whether it's meat, seafood, desserts or even sparkling water. His quest to find not only the best but the version that speaks to his most vulnerable nature is one that offers an almost spiritual journey to anyone who loves food, because who hasn't tried to replicate or even traveled miles to get a food that had such an impact on our lives at some point. His writing is funny, witty and most importantly speaks to the reader.

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Do you love food? Are you obsessed with food? Do you dream of food? Then this book is for you. Jay Rayner has been thinking about food since a young age, and trying to find the best: the primo sourdough bread, the pork with the perfect melding of fat and lean etc, and writer entertainingly about his search. He decides to combine the results with favorite foods from childhood, which he will serve to a group of friends as his 'Last Supper'.

The journeys are long and winding, but also humorous. He is a professional restaurant reviewer, so his language will retain your interest, as long as food is a major interest to you! It kept my interest until the end, which was a bit of a disappointment, but it may inspire you to create your own last supper, once covid is over.

[Gael Browne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love food. I love Jay Rayner; he is my favourite food critic (or food cricket, as my younger brother would’ve said, back before his language developed into a more well rounded thing). I’ve not had the pleasure of reading anything by Jay before, and this was everything I hoped it would be. His delicious language when describing the bounty of flavours, good and bad, that he’s encountered in this adventure of gathering a meal representative of his life was engrossing and delightful. More than that, his interesting look at death through the eyes of our stomachs was, in lots of ways, touching and challenging.

[Shawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been meaning to write my review of My Last Supper for the last few months. This innocent book was 'forced' upon me as our book club read for February. With chagrin, I admit that I had no idea who Jay Rayner -possibly for not being a dedicated follower of newspaper columns. At first blush, I was only marginally intrigued but somewhat put off by my colleagues' 'madulation' for their favourite columnists. Something in this always makes me concerned about this parasocial sense of their connection to these authors.
So I entered into reading with the spirit of good comradeship of the club and willing to give anything suggested a try. Try as I might, though, I didn't warm to this one. The writer came across as somewhat arrogant and certainly not making any expected attempt to connect with the reader. I attributed this to these pre-existing relationships with his readers and just couldn't warm to him. I generally make a point of not reading background info on an author unknown to me until finishing the work and letting it stand on its own device. However, in this work, the author offered a curated selection of music to accompany his chapters, and he referred to the formation of his self-styled quartet. I 'Spotified' him, and sure enough, didn't the Jay Rayner Quartet pop up, and so I did throw a bit of background listening into the read. Intriguing.
And so, I read on and lo and behold, I started to warm to Mr Rayner. His seeming arrogance gradually struck me as a less curated reflection of self. It is more no holds barred and more of honesty and genuineness - a 'warts and all' approach. In fact, there's a sense of self-deprecation hidden (maybe not quite hidden that well) in his self-reflection that I grew to appreciate.
This book (although written by someone that I now know writes on food and gastronomy) is about self and how this may be reflected in eating choice - cue his more profound volume: A Greedy Man in a Hungry World. Rayner is a journalist - and I was very struck by his admission/description of his sense of journalistic necessity: not to just hook a reader, but to keep them reading all the way through and appreciate the totality of their exposition. He does this with aplomb.
Although some topics and revelations warrant deeper consideration on the reader's part, this is possibly a lighter take on life (than some of his other books). This is not to say that this is superficial, far from it. It's exploratory but definitely full of wonderful humour - despite subject matter which does spend a significant amount of time considering death and grief. However, like much of his work, I would contend that he approaches and discusses this in a remarkably healthy frame of reference.
Essentially Rayner's My Last Supper involves his choice of contributions to various courses and does a deep dive into finding what makes that foodstuff interesting, intriguing, but most off: connected to his own life experience. He combines food with music that resonates with that choice or stage in life, as well as a recipe to try yourself. A brilliant recipe for engagement - as I discovered as I delved deeper into the experience. There's much exotic here, but also basic, and the supper resulting is as unique as I now perceive Jay Rayner to be himself.
Being from away (i.e. Canada rather than Ireland and the UK), I also was not familiar with his mother. Claire Rayner is someone I now feel I know better through her son's eyes.
There are specific incidents in the book (avoiding spoilers) that are half-explained, and at the time, the reader is left with outstanding questions. During my initial struggle, I was bothered by these, and they stuck with me as I sought out grounds to indite the author further. Then, eventually, I discovered that they were part of a larger master plan for the story. He had taken more care in building and scaffolding than I initially anticipated. He's good. Very good. And this was why I came to truly appreciate this book. As you started reading this review (if you did at all) and wondered how the first bits speak relate to something, I gave a 5-star rating to (it's actually 4.75 if Goodreads gave me more granularity) you must have appreciated that I would get here. The fact was I did gradually get a better sense of Mr Rayner through his own words and his own ability to keep me reading - whether it was through spite or savour.
I discovered an author/journalist with a unique talent, and I eagerly wanted to read more from and have subsequently - additional reviews to follow. I searched and found one of his earlier works through the nebulous online world we find ourselves in. Credit to him, Star Dust Falling (2002) is a superbly told piece of investigative journalism - and one of the few physical/tangible books I have read in a long time. (Note: I read this paperback edition when walking in the very bright sunshine as I have discovered I need that contrast to read a paperback novel - alas, these ageing eyes).
By the end of My Last Supper, I devoured this book with supreme pleasure, and it fed very nicely into Greedy Man, which I will review shortly. His writing is genuine and skillfully reveals his honest passions and feelings with writerly aplomb that draws in the reader and verges on the parasocial noted above.
Rayner challenges the reader to see things from various perspectives and from his own unique perspective, and as a good journalist should, provokes thought and rewards your attention. I am glad to have spent time with his creation and feel that I do have the slightest sense of coming to know him better and certainly thoroughly enjoyed his offering.

[Michael Shevlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Part dream menu, part memoir, part recipe book and part musical journey - this is an entertaining insight into the mind of Jay Raynor and his relationship to food, restaurants, family and journalism. At times it really touching and his 'last supper' sounds like a once in a lifetime affair that speaks of Jay's big heart and bigger appetite.

Also contained within in are a smattering of great recipes and a playlist of sorts as well as some genuinely interesting facts about food. If you like Rayner's writing in the Observer then you will like this - it shares his endlessly pithy prose that is easy to read and flows from one anecdote to another with seemingly invisble joins.

Recommended!

[Derek Stephen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always thought Mr Rayner as an affable sort of chap having seen him on Masterchef, listened to him on Radio 4 and through being an avid reader of his restaurant reviews for many, many years.

I wasn’t disappointed to read his part memoir, part food education and fully entertaining book. I got the distinct impression that he doesn’t take himself too seriously, regards himself as a most fortunate man and is very humble about his musical prowess.

If I was to have a Last Supper, Jay Rayner would definitely be on the guest list.