Like the fashion world, trends come and go in the food world as well. At one time it was all about how much you would spend for a meal out or on ingredients sourced from around the world. While some saw splashing out $250 on a slice of pizza ridiculous, others viewed it as a way to make a lasting impression. Here's a round of some of the world's most expensive foods, which might cause you to break out your credit card, instead of cash.
Sandwich
Head to Michelin-starred Waldo Restaurant at the Cliveden hotel in Berkshire for a taste of the 'von Essen Platinum Club sandwich'. With 30-month old cured Iberico ham, ten grammes of white truffles, poulet de Bresse, quail eggs and semi-dried Italian tomatoes set on 24-hour fermented sourdough bread, it's not surprising you pay a whopping £100 for a taste of this American classic that weighs in at 530g.
Caviar
A pale gold in colour, the Almas (meaning diamond) caviar from Caviar House and Prunier is sourced in Iran from the Beluga Sturgeon, and the lighter the colour of the caviar and older the fish, the more refined the flavour. According to urban legend, it was exclusively reserved for the Iranian Shah's indulgence and anyone caught selling or eating it had their right arm chopped off. One kilogramme is available for £16,000 (subject to change) and is packaged in a 24-carat gold tin with a gold serving spoon and enclosed in a specially veneered wooden humidor.
Sundae
The decadent US$1,000 Golden Opulence treat was developed to commemorate the 50th anniversary of dessert haven Serendipity 3 in Manhattan. It contains five scoops of Tahitian vanilla bean ice cream that's also infused with Madagascar vanilla and topped with a gold leaf, drizzled with one of the world's most expensive chocolates, Amedei Porceleana, sprinkled with chunks of rare Chuao chocolate and is filled with Parisian candied fruits, gold dragets, truffles and marzipan cherries. Topped with a small glass bowl of Golden Passion Caviar - a special salt-free dessert caviar - infused with passion fruit and orange, it's served in a crystal goblet with an 18-carat gold spoon and a tiny mother of pearl spoon crowned with a gilded sugar flower. If you'd like to indulge, just make sure you order it in advance of your visit.
Soup
Served at Kai restaurant in the exclusive Mayfair area in London, the £108 'Buddha Jumped Over the Wall' soup is described on the menu as, "a highly extravagant soup with exquisite ingredients. Abalone, superior shark's fin, dried scallops, sea cucumber, ginseng, corn-fed chicken, Chinese mushrooms and gold in a broth fit for an Emperor." It requires five days of advance notice to be prepared and is part of Kai's Imperial Delicacies list that calls for extensive preparation involving several kitchen staff and expensive ingredients.
Sushi roll
Available only in restaurant Koi's Las Vegas outlet, the Highroller sushi roll (US$1,000) is made with Hudson Valley foie gras, covered with sweetly succulent Lobster sashimi that's brushed with a saffron and vanilla bean butter and topped with Golden Osetra caviar. It's finished with a tableside shaving of white Alba truffles and a drizzle of 100-year-old balsamic vinegar. Not mentioned on the regular menu, the roll has been dubbed a VIP dish and will be made available only to the select few who have heard of it through the grapevine.
Omelette
Breakfast eatery Norma's menu at the Le Parker Meridien, New York and Le Parker Palm Springs teasingly suggests, 'Norma dares you to expense this'. 'This' refers to the US$1,000 Zillion Dollar Lobster Frittata that's a super sized omelette topped with a lobster tail and 10oz of Sevruga caviar. For those who prefer the a lighter version (on their wallet, not their waists) a more reasonable regular size with just 1oz of caviar and a single lobster tail is available for $100.
Burger
Look no further than the special DB burger (US$32) offered only at the DB Bistro Moderne in New York City and the Daniel Boulud Brasserie at The Wynn Las Vegas Resort. Set on a homemade bun brushed with fresh horseradish and oven roasted tomato confit, the burger consists of ground sirloin stuffed with Boulud's signature braised short ribs, foie gras, mirepoix of root vegetables and preserved black truffle and sits on frisée lettuce, red onions and fresh tomato. During the truffle season, from late December to March, the burger is dubbed the DB Royale ($75) with delicate slices of black Périgord truffles adorning the burger.
Cheesesteak sandwich
Be prepared to pay US$100 at the Barclay Prime restaurant in Philadelphia, US for this local delight that actually costs just a couple of dollars. Made with expensive Japanese Kobe beef, it's topped with Taleggio cheese (US$17 per pound), sautéed foie gras, heirloom shaved tomatoes, caramelised onions and shaved truffles that retails for US$900 per pound and is served with a selection of knives from Australia, Japan and France.
Pizza
Nino's Bellissima in Manhattan serves up a 12-inch pie with delectable toppings of crème fraiche, Maine lobster tail, four different types of Petrossian caviar, salmon roe and a kick of wasabi for US$1,000. Cut into four pieces, a single slice costs $250 in case you decide to split the tab with three friends.
Chocolate
The Madeleine truffle (US$250) created by Fritz Knipschildt, maitre chocolatier, of Knipschildt Chocolatier consists of a 1.5 ounce French Périgord truffle (also known as 'black diamond' and costs US$1000 per 454g) draped in a silken ganache made with a mélange of 71 per cent Ecuadorian single bean chocolate combined and fresh cream that's infused for 24 hours with vanilla pods and Italian truffle oil. To finish, the truffle is coated in 71 per cent Ecuadorian single bean chocolate and rolled in cocoa powder. Available only by special order, the truffle is packaged in a silver box on a bed of burgundy satin with a personal note from creator Fritz and a special serial number.
 |
 |
 |
