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July 2, 2009

As if Michael Jackson’s life wasn’t strange enough, the events surrounding his death have been even weirder. Or at least the rumours which have been reported have been. My favourite was the obviously false but still funny suggestion that his will requested a troupe of chimps to act as coffin bearers.

The news that experimental caterers Bompass and Parr have created funeral jellies to be eaten on the occasion of the singer’s funeral sounds as though it might be a hoax until you look at their previous, unusual events.

A walk-in gin and tonic, 2D banquet and scratch ‘n’ sniff cinema are all par for the course for the firm which describes its work as operating in the space between food and architecture.

Flavoured with black cherry and champagne and set with 24 carat gold, the funeral jellies will be served at Bistrotheque restaurant in East London to mark the singer’s funeral. Bompass and Parr have already had some success with the idea of wedding jellies so the concept of marking another stage of life with jelly is perhaps not as absurd as it first sounds.

According to this interview in Caterer, funeral cakes used to be a regular feature at wakes. Jellies are just an extension of the idea. In the interview, Harry Parr is quoted as saying:

“Historically funeral cakes were made using moulds much like jellies. Original funeral moulds were made in metal, wood and ceramic with motifs including the three plumes that decorate hearses, roosters, symbolising resurrection and Masonic symbols. Our funeral jellies are designed in the shape of the ancient pyramids.”

I suspect that Jackson would have approved.

If this sounds intriguing then watch this space. There is a Bompass and Parr event happening in Edinburgh next week and we’ll have more info on Monday.

One of Bompass and Parr's more ghostly jellies
One of Bompass and Parr's more ghostly jellies