From simple street vendors to hole-in-the-wall hot spots, it's not always necessary to climb into the triple (or quadruple) digits to get a great culinary experience. But for those looking to truly live a lavish lifestyle, thousand-dollar omelets and gilded cupcakes can be the ultimate thrill for high roller foodies. Deliciousness doesn't have a price tag, but we'd by lying if we said it's not fun to push the limits-and to explore the boundaries, our Forbes Travel Guide editors scouted out five extravagantly priced dishes to try this summer.
The Zillion Dollar Lobster Frittata at Norma's, photo courtesy Norma's
The Zillion Dollar Lobster Frittata, Norma's, New York
If breakfast is indeed the most important meal of the day, it makes sense that there should be a dish celebrating its highly regarded reputation, and Le Parker Meridien New York is more than happy to oblige. The New York City hotel's breakfast-focused restaurant, Norma's, offers the not-so-subtle Zillion Dollar Lobster Frittata to patrons looking to skyrocket their concept of what an omelet can be. Although to be fair, it's not so much the six eggs, cream and chives in this dish that are the star. The spotlight rests on the mountainous, "super size" 10 ounces of Sevruga caviar (beaten in price only by the Beluga and Osetra varieties) and an entire lobster cooked in with this breakfast behemoth. The meal clocks in at $1,000; and while it's not quite the "zillion" promised in the title, it doesn't stop Norma's from including a playful jab below the menu listing reading, "Norma dares you to expense this."
Dragon Dog, DougieDog, Vancouver, British Columbia
As far as classic American fare goes, the noble hot dog is tough to beat, especially during the sunny months of summer. But if you've nibbled on dogs from the East Coast to the West Coast and everything between, it's time to take your refined hot dog palate to another level. Mythical in name, composition and-for a hot dog-cost, the Dragon Dog concocted by Vancouver's DougieDog food truck is a top-shelf spin on the boardwalk staple. The base of the dog is the bratwurst infused with century-old Louis XIII de Rémy Martin cognac, and it doesn't get any less sublime from there. Add on lobster, a secret picante sauce and Kobe beef seared in truffle and olive oil and it's clear that this isn't your average grilled fare-something that's driven home even more so by the $100 price tag.
Fleur Burger 5000 at Fleur by Hubert Keller, photo courtesy Fleur by Hubert Keller
Fleur Burger 5000, Fleur by Hubert Keller, Las Vegas
Admittedly, most of the extravagance of the $5,000 Fleur Burger 5000 comes from its companion wine-a bottle of 1995 Château Pétrus that sells for at least $2,000 itself-but that doesn't stop Fleur by Hubert Keller's titular dish from being impressive in its own right. Keller's Las Vegas restaurant at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino (a sister location to San Francisco's Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star Fleur De Lys) serves a Wagyu beef patty topped with a medallion of foie gras, truffle sauce and shaved black truffles, and is sandwiched between a decadent brioche truffle bun. While you'll be able to dive right into the burger with your hands, the wine requires the slightly more proper vessel of Ichendorf Milano glasses, which you'll take home with you after your meal is complete. Adding to the pageantry of this over-the-top experience, a certificate of authenticity proving you've sampled the most expensive burger in the world will be mailed to your home.
White Truffle and Gold Pizza, Margo's, Malta
The old standby of pepperoni has officially been outshined. Venture out to the island of Malta during truffle season (October through May) for some authentic Neapolitan pizza at Margo's and experience this sparkling pie featuring white truffle shavings (flown in from Italy's Piedmont region the day the pizza is made) and 24-karat gold leaf draped on top of the fresh organic buffalo mozzarella. The price of the dish will depend on the market value of truffles at the time; but at its cheapest, it will cost €1,800 (around US$2,347). And don't expect to order this expensive pizza on a whim-the restaurant requires a week's notice for any would-be truffle and gold diners.
Decadence D'Or at Sweet Surrender, photo courtesy Sweet Surrender
Decadence D'Or, Sweet Surrender, Las Vegas
Satisfying a sweet tooth craving is a simple pleasure of life and while small bites of sugar might usually do the trick, Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star The Palazzo Resort Hotel Casino offers a truly artful delight for those desires much too powerful for a simple Hershey's Kiss. As the Las Vegas hotel's spot for all things tasty, Sweet Surrender takes cupcakes to a royal echelon with the Decadence D'Or, a treat that certainly lives up to its prestigious title. Created from the rare Porcelana Criollo bean, the cupcake's top-tier chocolate foundation is only the beginning. Tahitian gold vanilla caviar topping, Louis XIII de Rémy Martin and, for a truly gilded touch, edible gold flakes round out the impressive list of ingredients, but not the presentation. This $750 dessert is finished off with a hand-blown sugar fleur-de-lis filled with cognac.
Source: Forbes & Forbes Travel Guide
