YumSugar

What Would You Do?

YumSugar — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 09:00:44 -0700

We've all been in crazy situations, and I want to know how you handle entertaining fiascoes and bad restaurant behavior. I'll present a situation and you tell me what you would do. Here's today's scenario:

Your parents are visiting from out of town. You want to take them out to a nice but not too fancy dinner as a send-off, but it's Sunday and lots of places are closed. You've been wandering around for a while, and now everyone is hungry! You duck into one of the city's regarded restaurants on the off chance they have a table, and they do.

When you sit down, you realize this is much more of a fine dining experience than you were seeking. Three-course meals are the only option, and the price tag is high.

Not quite French Laundry level, but you were looking for something more casual. You can afford it, and since you're already seated, it's awkward to leave. What do you do? It happened to me, actually. Find out what I did.

Food Sizes Shrinking, Prices Stay the Same

partysugar — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 10:15:02 -0700

On Friday afternoon I was in the ice cream aisle at my local grocery store. Since food is incredibly pricey these days, I was searching for the cheapest vanilla ice cream. As I reached for what I thought was the cheapest, my bff pointed out that it was actually a smaller container with a more expensive price tag! As we all know, ice cream cartons aren't the only items on grocery store shelves that are shrinking, and Time magazine reports on the growing trend:

Soaring commodity and fuel prices are driving up costs for manufacturers; faced with a choice between raising prices (which consumers would surely notice) or quietly putting fewer ounces in the bag, carton or cup (which they generally don't) manufacturers are choosing the latter. This month, Kellogg's started shipping Apple Jacks, Cocoa Krispies, Corn Pops, Froot Loops and Honey Smacks containing an average of 2.4 fewer ounces per box.

Other brands that are offering consumers shrunken products at unchanged prices are Tropicana, Wrigley's, Hellman's, and Country Crock. Have you noticed any of these smaller products at your supermarket?

Source

Meet the World's Most Expensive Burger

partysugar — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 13:10:56 -0700

With the arrival of British Burger King's bling burger, the world just got a little more ridiculous. At £95 (about $200), this burger puts New York's $175 burger to shame. The burger will enter the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's most expensive hamburger.

Japanese wagyu beef, white truffles, pata negra ham, onion rings made from Cristal batter, pink Himalayan rock salt, and an organic white-wine-infused mayonnaise are the ingredients that make this burger incredibly pricey. While it's obviously excessive, all the proceeds will be donated to charity so what do you think of the bling burger?

Source

New York Burger Joint Adds $175 Burger to Menu

partysugar — Wed, 21 May 2008 07:45:38 -0700

The indulgent world of haute cuisine just got a little more luxurious: Yesterday the Wall Street Burger Joint started serving a $175 hamburger. What makes it so special is the use of high end ingredients such as kobe beef, foie gras, exotic mushrooms, and golden truffle mayonnaise. The entire burger is topped with a generous dusting of gold flakes.

While the creation of absurdly expensive dishes is nothing new, I find it interesting that this burger's debut happens to be in the middle of an international food crisis. I couldn't afford to taste this burger myself, but if dining with a high roller, I would definitely indulge in this extreme excessiveness. I might even ask the chef to add imported aged cheddar! If you're going to go over the top, might as well do it in style. Still, there is something as too much. What do you think about this burger? Is it overly outrageous or divinely fabulous?

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What Exactly Is in a $60,000 Ice Cream Sundae?

YumSugar — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 15:21:19 -0700

I was recently at the new Oxbow Public Market in Napa, where I came across a little organic scoop shop from Three Twins Ice Cream. While the ice cream is smooth and delicious, it was actually the absurdly expensive sundaes that caught my eye.

I asked the gal behind the counter if they've ever served an expensive sundae, and she said not yet, but she was sure it was bound to happen someday. The sundae costs $3,333.33 and consists of a banana split made with syrups from three rare dessert wines, served with an ice cream spoon from the 1850s. If you give them a day's notice, they'll even have a cellist play while you eat it. If you think the cost is too absurd - it is on the "absurdity" menu, after all - maybe it'll help to know that 1/3 of the price is being donated to a local land trust.

If, however, you think this is too tame to be considered the world's most expensive ice cream sundae, then perhaps the $60,000 "World's More Expensive Most Expensive Ice Cream Sundae" will pique your interest. To find out what all that cash will buy you, read more.

For $60,000 you can travel to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, where the Three Twins Ice Cream founder will handchurn a batch of ice cream using the glacial ice found at the summit. The cost includes first class airfare to Tanzania, five-star accommodations, a guided climb, all the ice cream you can eat, and an organic T-shirt, of course. Oh, and you can bring a friend for a mere $25,000 more. It should also be noted that a portion of the purchase will go to an African environmental nonprofit.

So tell me, if you had the money, is this something you'd do? I know I would!

Do You Buy Expensive or Budget Beer?

YumSugar — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 05:28:31 -0700

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It's Getting Haute Chocolate in Here

YumSugar — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 09:01:11 -0800

If you thought the Serpentine Goblets were pricey, then let me introduce you to the world's most expensive dessert: Frrrozen Haute Chocolate. Created by the folks at the Serendipity 3 restaurant in NY, the Frrrozen Haute Chocolate - which is an expensive version of their famous Frrrozen Hot Chocolate - rings up at $25,000. Yes, that is a five figure price tag on a single dessert.

The dessert itself is a mix of cocoa and milk, frozen to a slush-like drink. Five grams of 24-carat gold is mixed in and then it's topped with more gold and garnished with a $250 chocolate truffle that is flown in from France.

The dessert has just gone on sale and actually needs a two week lead time (they also fly the gold in from Switzerland). So far they haven't sold any, but I'm sure that's just a matter of time.

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$130,000 Cake, Just Don't Eat the Decorations

YumSugar — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 06:28:33 -0700

If you think wedding cakes are expensive, you should try comparing them to this Platinum Cake by Japanese pastry chef Nobue Ikara. Draped in platinum necklaces, pendants and pins, this white cake is worth over $130,000.

The cake itself is dedicated to several famous Japanese women, including actress Rinko Kikuchi (from Babel) and model Chie Kumasawa and was commissioned in order to entice women to buy more platinum jewelry.

Mikiko Ichikawa, of the Platinum Guild, said: "I think platinum and a white cake is the best possible combination as a present for women because both have the same colour of white, which is said to have pureness and brightness that lasts forever."

What do you think? Does it make you want to buy more platinum?

Source: Platinum Today via Luxist

Would You Indulge In The World's Most Expensive Desserts?

YumSugar — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 13:18:31 -0700

I'm not totally sure that I would pay $14,500 for a full vacation, but I do know that I couldn't justify that amount on a single dessert. Granted the Fortress Aquamarine does come with an 80-carat aquamarine gem, but still... If however, you find yourself with nearly 15 grand to spare, you'll be able to purchase this extraordinary dessert at Wine3 at the Fortress in Sri Lanka.

If 15k is a little out of your price range, then perhaps the $1000 Brownie Extraordinaire from Atlantic City's Brûlée is more your style? These two desserts, along with eight others have made Forbes Traveler's list of the world's most expensive desserts. Personally I can't figure out why it would be worth it. However you know if I had that sort of cash to throw around, I'd definitely have to see what it was all about!

Source: Forbes Traveler via Splurch

Another Expensive Item You'll Never Use (or Afford)

YumSugar — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 15:01:31 -0700

I have a hard time conceiving of a meal that would cost £100,000 ($205,000), let alone a pot that costs that much. However, German cookware firm Fissler doesn't seem to have a problem with it. Their 11-inch pot is studded with 200 diamonds and has solid gold handles. Fissler is insisting that the $205,000 pot can be used like any other saucepan - only I don't see why you would. That would be like saying you could use a solid gold chain to lock up your bike. It would probably work, but why?!?

Source: Spluch