Captain Moonlight: The Life and Cuisine of Elvis Presley

BORED with mincing cuisine? Help is at hand from a splendid book, recently published in the United States, The Life and Cuisine of Elvis Presley, by David Adler. I quote: 'Simple yet succulent, the food Elvis ate at Graceland was in the tradition of the food of his youth . . . Napkins: Elvis always used a towel . . . Cutlery: Elvis enjoyed eating picnic-style. However, he fastidiously used a knife and fork to eat his peanut butter and banana sandwiches . . . Cooking time: When you think the food is well done, cook it some more. Elvis liked his food burnt. Coincidentally (or maybe not), Elvis's favorite word

of endorsement was 'burnt'. 'That's burnt, man,' he would say, which could indicate either a good steak or a good performance . . . Before Serving: Cut up all the food into bite-size pieces; this is the cardinal rule of Elvis cuisine . . .' So there you are. What? The recipe for the sandwiches? Certainly:

two slices white bread, two heaped tablespoons of smooth peanut butter, half a very ripe banana, mashed with fork, two tablespoons of margarine. Spread the bread with the peanut butter and the banana. Melt the margarine in a skillet over medium heat. Fry the sandwich, browning it on both sides. Serve warm. Eat 250 of them. Only joking.

(Photograph omitted)