Find about luxury food loved by the people to invest in.“Caviar” (CC BY 2.0) by geishaboy500
Caviar, cocktails, cognac cupcakes and champagne chocolate eggs. According to a recent article published by Lottoland, the ability to treat your taste buds to pure culinary opulence comes at a price. With the cheapest item on their list of “The World’s Most Luxurious Food and Drink” being a £518 cupcake, there is no shortage of luxury food to be enjoyed around the world.
Let’s face it: you would need to win the EuroMillions top prize to experience such affluent cuisine. Apparently, if you’re filthy rich, it’s an obvious choice to cover all food in gold leaf, or go a step further and include a personalized diamond engagement ring in a glass of martini.
Luxury food “Martini” (CC BY 2.0) by Alex Butterfield
So, what came at the top of this outrageous list? A lavish £41,335 for one 750ml bottle of water which is presented in a decadent glass bottle covered with a 24-carat gold face. One that mimics the work of artist Amedeo Clemente Modigliani no less.
If I was so bloody well-off that I could afford such excesses, I don’t even know if I would bother. Does the extravagant receptacle warrant such a considerable cost? You can buy a much larger, identical tasting, 2-liter plastic supermarket bottle for a measly 17p. And I think I’d feel much better about myself drinking out of that.
The real question, in my opinion, is what counts as luxury food? Is white truffle and beer made from Antarctic ice actually the height of sophistication and presentation?
“NYE 2015 – risotto” (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Edsel L
Surely pure gastronomic pleasure comes from the taste of one’s food, not necessarily the ingredients or presentation methods employed.
The definition of luxury, according to the Oxford Dictionary, is: “A state of great comfort.” Doesn’t this mean that luxury food doesn’t always have to have a tremendous price tag?
It seems that the current fashion is for top restaurants to experiment excessively with food to a ridiculous level. Whether it’s the Zillion Dollar Frittata in New York (instead of an uncomplicated omelet) or a deconstructed apple pie with apple crisps and mousse – what even is that?
Sometimes the original, simplistic versions of these dishes are the more comforting, ‘luxurious’ choice. I’ll take that as opposed to a beautifully crafted and presented meal where the flavors are indistinguishable, and the textures are odd.
In addition to the cost of the food, comes the expense of the fine dining culture. Getting dressed up and going to a fancy location all has to be added to the bill. It does make me wonder about the appeal of experiencing luxury food to the extent featured in Lottoland article.
“apple pie” (CC BY 2.0) by Kanko*
Nowadays, there are more accessible ways to enjoy a top quality taste. Expertly cooked lobster and oysters in a restaurant overlooking the sea no longer breaks the bank. More and more gourmet restaurants are now offering taster and fixed price menus so that a wide range of people can enjoy the perks of luxury food without having to go to the extremes.
At the end of the day if you’re a fan of gold leaf pizzas and diamonds in drinks, then go wild. But don’t forget that luxury cuisine can also be found in the comfort of your own home without having to remortgage it.