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vulture lists
February 23, 2015

Parks and Recreation: Everything Ron Swanson Has Eaten

By Adam K. Raymond

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This piece originally ran in May 2013. It has been updated in advance of the Parks and Recreation series finale tomorrow, February 24.

Ron Swanson’s love affair with meat is one of this past decade’s great TV romances. But Parks and Recreation fans might be surprised to learn that Swanson hasn’t only shoved charred mammal flesh down his gullet in seven seasons of the show. There have also been peppers, pretzels, and, in one bizarre scenario, a salad. There’s only one thing more impressive than Ron Swanson’s mustache: his appetite.

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1 / 42 Photos
Bacon-wrapped shrimp ("my No. 1 favorite food, wrapped around my No. 3 favorite food") at a banquet honoring Leslie's mom. Bacon-wrapped shrimp ("my No. 1 favorite food, wrapped around my No. 3 favorite food") at a banquet honoring Leslie's mom.

Bacon-wrapped shrimp ("my No. 1 favorite food, wrapped around my No. 3 favorite food") at a banquet honoring Leslie's mom.

And a perfectly reasonable slice of cake. And a perfectly reasonable slice of cake.

And a perfectly reasonable slice of cake.

A French fry at a local diner. A French fry at a local diner.

A French fry at a local diner.

Pancake, eggs, a biscuit, gravy, and sausage from a strip-club breakfast buffet. Pancake, eggs, a biscuit, gravy, and sausage from a strip-club breakfast buffet.

Pancake, eggs, a biscuit, gravy, and sausage from a strip-club breakfast buffet.

A deviled egg he made himself. A deviled egg he made himself.

A deviled egg he made himself.

Mexican bean soup. Mexican bean soup.

Mexican bean soup.

A pepper. A pepper.

A pepper.

A fruit tart. A fruit tart.

A fruit tart.

A 16-ounce T-bone and a 24-ounce porterhouse. He calls it "turf-and-turf." A 16-ounce T-bone and a 24-ounce porterhouse. He calls it "turf-and-turf."

A 16-ounce T-bone and a 24-ounce porterhouse. He calls it "turf-and-turf."

Crackers, fruit, and cheese at a meeting of former parks-department heads. Crackers, fruit, and cheese at a meeting of former parks-department heads.

Crackers, fruit, and cheese at a meeting of former parks-department heads.

A piece of bacon from a plate of breakfast food. A piece of bacon from a plate of breakfast food.

A piece of bacon from a plate of breakfast food.

A bacon-wrapped turkey leg, or a "Swanson." A bacon-wrapped turkey leg, or a "Swanson."

A bacon-wrapped turkey leg, or a "Swanson."

A meat tornado burrito from Big Head Joe's. A meat tornado burrito from Big Head Joe's.

A meat tornado burrito from Big Head Joe's.

A birthday spread provided by Leslie. A birthday spread provided by Leslie.

A birthday spread provided by Leslie.

A soft, salty pretzel. A soft, salty pretzel.

A soft, salty pretzel.

Forty percent of a little girl's lunch, which he took in order to show her how taxes work. Forty percent of a little girl's lunch, which he took in order to show her how taxes work.

Forty percent of a little girl's lunch, which he took in order to show her how taxes work.

A burger for breakfast to stave off a hang-over. A burger for breakfast to stave off a hang-over.

A burger for breakfast to stave off a hang-over.

A cruller. A cruller.

A cruller.

And a powdered-sugar doughnut. And a powdered-sugar doughnut.

And a powdered-sugar doughnut.

A salad, eaten while under the spell of Tammy One. A salad, eaten while under the spell of Tammy One.

A salad, eaten while under the spell of Tammy One.

Beans eaten straight from the can. Beans eaten straight from the can.

Beans eaten straight from the can.

A whole bunch of ribs. A whole bunch of ribs.

A whole bunch of ribs.

A porterhouse, rare. A porterhouse, rare.

A porterhouse, rare.

A plate of Swanson ribs. A plate of Swanson ribs.

A plate of Swanson ribs.

Something messy that was once wrapped in foil. Something messy that was once wrapped in foil.

Something messy that was once wrapped in foil.

Bacon-wrapped shrimp. Bacon-wrapped shrimp.

Bacon-wrapped shrimp.

Pigs in a blanket and meat on a stick. Pigs in a blanket and meat on a stick.

Pigs in a blanket and meat on a stick.

A rare porterhouse, baked potato, and rasher of bacon at St. Elmo's in Indianapolis. A rare porterhouse, baked potato, and rasher of bacon at St. Elmo's in Indianapolis.

A rare porterhouse, baked potato, and rasher of bacon at St. Elmo's in Indianapolis.

An ice-cream cone at Jerry's favorite shop, Sherm's, in Muncie. An ice-cream cone at Jerry's favorite shop, Sherm's, in Muncie.

An ice-cream cone at Jerry's favorite shop, Sherm's, in Muncie.

Meat from Pawnee caterer Food 4 Eats. Meat from Pawnee caterer Food 4 Eats.

Meat from Pawnee caterer Food 4 Eats.

Pretty much everything JJ's Diner makes. Pretty much everything JJ's Diner makes.

Pretty much everything JJ's Diner makes.

A party platter, which is supposed to serve eight. A party platter, which is supposed to serve eight.

A party platter, which is supposed to serve eight.

A banana-topped burger. A banana-topped burger.

A banana-topped burger.

A big, meaty half-sandwich, with chips. A big, meaty half-sandwich, with chips.

A big, meaty half-sandwich, with chips.

An animal he hunted and spit-roasted, off of a knife. An animal he hunted and spit-roasted, off of a knife.

An animal he hunted and spit-roasted, off of a knife.

A single slice of salami. A single slice of salami.

A single slice of salami.

Some pigs in a blanket. Some pigs in a blanket.

Some pigs in a blanket.

An entire plate of mini-sandwiches. An entire plate of mini-sandwiches.

An entire plate of mini-sandwiches.

His final plate of bacon-wrapped shrimp. His final plate of bacon-wrapped shrimp.

His final plate of bacon-wrapped shrimp.

One of Leslie's "prepare for war" cookies. One of Leslie's "prepare for war" cookies.

One of Leslie's "prepare for war" cookies.

A nice breakfast sandwich to counter his loneliness. A nice breakfast sandwich to counter his loneliness.

A nice breakfast sandwich to counter his loneliness.

A succulent bite of meat at Donna's wedding. A succulent bite of meat at Donna's wedding.

A succulent bite of meat at Donna's wedding.

1 / 42

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