Elvis Presley was the King of Rock'n'Roll but he also ruled his kitchens with a careful gaze. From Southern comforts to the infamous Fool's Gold loaf and takeaway burgers, the musician's tastebuds varied from niche Colorado hits to the most popular American classics. Read on to find out which foods got the King's tummy rumbling...
© The Washington Post via Getty ImagesBiscuits and Gravy
For any UK readers: no, that doesn't mean meaty sauce over a couple of Hobnobs. American biscuits are similar to a savoury scone and a delicious favourite when paired with white sausage sauce. Of course, the King of Rock'n'Roll couldn't resist this comforting classic.
According to writer David Adler's The Life and Cuisine of Elvis Presley, it was Southern comforts that found Elvis' favour. In particular, the dishes that harkened back to his mother Gradys' cooking that found its way onto their table in Tupelo, Mississippi through the late 1930s.
© Getty Images for Australian GranTakeaway Burgers
For a man so closely connected to sandwiches, it makes sense that Presley would be a big fan of burgers. He loved a takeaway but also kept his fridge well stocked with all the makings of a perfect burger, according to his cousin Danny Smith.
Danny revealed that Krystal was his favourite chain when at home in Graceland. The company was founded in Tennessee in the 1930s and served the patties in batches of 12. His cousin recalled that Elvis would order "gobs and gobs of them. And everybody up in Graceland would eat on them".
© Getty ImagesThe Elvis Sandwich
The Elvis Sandwich combined plenty of the King's favourite things: peanut butter, sandwiches and fried goods. This particular sandwich was filled with peanut butter and banana and involved toasting each slice before construction. Then, the whole lot was fried in a good amount of butter.
His Graceland cook, Mary Jenkins Langston, reportedly used two sticks of butter for every three sandwiches, noting that the singer wanted all of the butter soaked up into the sandwich before turning off the hob to serve.
© Reading Eagle via Getty ImagesMeatloaf
It's the ultimate comfort dish and one that would certainly have been a favourite at every dinner table in the '30s. Apparently, the singer included a secret ingredient, wheat germ, to make his mark on the staple dish.
His ex-wife Priscilla Presley even revealed that the musician requested meatloaf every day for six months straight, proving that once the King found his perfect dish, there was no stopping him from enjoying it, even to excessive quantities.
© Denver Post via Getty ImagesFool's Gold Loaf
Of course, there's one recipe that has truly made its mark on pop-culture: the Fool's Gold loaf. Starting with a hollowed-out loaf, it's then coated with butter and filled with one jar of peanut butter, one jar of grape jelly and an entire pound of cooked bacon.
The Fool's Gold sandwich has become the stuff of legend, originally made by the Colorado Mine Company based in Colorado. It comes in at around 8,000 calories so – unlike the King – you might want to stick to a slice or two.
© Getty ImagesFried chicken
Another Southern favourite from the King, Elvis even had specific stipulations for this classic comfort food item. According to his Graceland cook, he "didn't care for food with bones in it... like fried chicken. He liked it boneless."
Of course, when you're the King of Rock'n'Roll, anything is possible. He also reportedly asked that his cooks cut his meat into bite-sized pieces before it was served.
