Outrageously Expensive Dishes Around the World

People are whipping up dishes with rare and expensive ingredients and charging an arm and a leg for them.
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Most people don't mind paying a little extra for a really good steak, especially if it's made from delicious Kobe beef. Sometimes you may even be willing to fork out a little extra cash for a gourmet lobster dinner... but would you still do it if that lobster came with flakes of edible gold leaf and set you back more than a thousand dollars?

Around the world, chefs are challenging themselves to create some decadently expensive meals. From an absurdly expensive bagel at the Westin Hotel in New York City (made with white truffle and gold leaves), to an omelette made with a whole lobster that'll cost around $1,000 (also in New York City, incidentally), to an English soup made with shark's fin which all costs just under $200 -- people are whipping up dishes with rare and expensive ingredients and charging an arm and a leg for them.

What's perhaps even more outrageous is that their fancy clientele is more than willing to pay for it. Some of these dishes need to be ordered in advance and have a weeks-long waiting list for them. Others are not big sellers: like Arnaud's Strawberries in New Orleans, which comes with a diamond ring and is generally reserved for really over-the-top proposals (though at a price point of over $3 million, selling just one of these dishes every few months should be more than enough to cover your rent bill).

Think that's excessive? Read on to learn more about some of the world's most outrageously expensive dishes.

1
Strawberries Arnaud — Arnaud's, New Orleans
If you were planning on popping the question, this is a great dessert to do it with… if you can afford it! These plump Louisiana strawberries are stewed in ruby Port, Burgundy-style wine, cloves, cinnamon, and sugar. They’re then topped-off of with scoops of vanilla ice cream and a dollop of lightly whipped cream. And the proverbial cherry on top? Well, that’s 7-carat pink diamond ring. The acceptance of your marriage proposal is, unfortunately, not included in the price.Price: 3.95 million USDPhoto Credit: ArnaudsClick Here to see More Outrageously Expensive Dishes Around the World
2
Fortress Stilt Fisherman Indulgence Dessert — The Fortress Resort & Spa, Sri Lanka
Arguably the world’s most expensive dessert, this delicately flavored treat is an Italian cassata, infused with Irish cream and seasonal fruit. A pomegranate and mango compote is added along with champagne sabayon (Dom Pérignon, of course), which form the base. It’s then decorated with Fortress’s handmade chocolate carving in the shape of a local fisherman clinging to his stilt (an ancient tradition still practiced in the region today), and gold leaf. Then a gorgeous aquamarine stone is added to the carving. It’s almost too beautiful to eat.Price: 14,500 USDPhoto Credit: Fortress Restaurant and Spa
3
Buddha Jumps Over the Wall Soup — Kai Mayfair Restaurant, London
Enter caption for this slideThe world’s most expensive commercial soup is made with shark’s fin (banned throughout most of the world, incidentally), abalone, Japanese flower mushrooms, dried scallops, pork, ginseng, huan ham, chicken, and sea cucumber. It’s so unique and takes such a long time to prepare that you have to order it at least five days in advance.Price: 190 USDPhoto Credit: Wikipedia/ TakoradeeClick Here to see More Outrageously Expensive Dishes Around the World
4
The Samundari Khazana Curry — Bombay Brasserie, London
The name, loosely translated, means “seafood treasure” and it’s the crème de la crème of special curries. This dish is made from Devon crab, Beluga caviar, white truffle, gold leaf, four abalones, quail eggs, and a Scottish lobster coated in gold.Price: 3,200 USDPhoto Credit: Bombay Brasserie
5
The Golden Phoenix Cupcake — Bloomsbury Café, Dubai
You’ll probably need to order this at least 48 hours in advance, but it’s worth it. Arguably the world’s most expensive cupcake, this Bloomsbury Café creation is made with Italian chocolate, vanilla beans from Uganda, and strawberries dipped in edible gold. It’s also apparently whipped with 24-carat gold sheets.Price: 18,713 USDPhoto Credit: Bloomsbury's Click Here to see More Outrageously Expensive Dishes Around the World

-- Serusha Govender, The Daily Meal

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