The Hamburger: A New Trend in Luxury Cuisine?
The hamburger has come a long way since it first debuted in the late 1880’s – so much more than the traditional ground beef patty, bun and fixings such as lettuce, tomato, ketchup and mustard. Today it’s found its niche in the world of fine dining and haute cuisine. Kobe burgers are now a standard selection on many high-end restaurants, ranging from $22 to upwards of $125. Of course these burgers are made from the best beef and are accompanied by the finest cheeses, truffles and foie gras.
Several establishments have capitalized on the luxury burger craze even further by weaving vintage wines into the mix. The Fleur de Lys – located in Las Vegas, NV – serves a Kobe beef patty complete with black truffles and truffle sauce served on a brioche truffle bun. The price tag: $5000. The top-notch burger isn’t the reason for the high price tag, but rather the bottle of 1990 Chateau Petrus. The Palms – another Las Vegas establishment – is offering a unique “combo” in pairing a $6 Carl Jr. hamburger with a 24-yeard old bottle of French Bordeaux. The cost of this fine grouping: $6000.Rumor has it, there is actually a New York restaurant that serves a hamburger dusted with gold. With the hamburger moving in such a upward motion, it will be interesting to see what path other “common” foods take in the near future.
Ohh, now I am hungry.