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The Most Expensive Dinner Ever?
On November 11, Thomas Keller and Grant Achatz will team up to serve a 20-course dinner at Per Se—and charge $1,500 per guest. Achatz told Time Out New York what diners can expect to see on the menu: “Likely it will include a few Alinea and Keller classics, like the oysters and pearls from him and the hot potato-cold potato from me…with a few new ones in the mix.”
Sounds like a pretty amazing meal, but the hefty price tag made blogger Catherine from Food, and Other Musings feel inclined to permanently boycott the two chefs’ restaurants:
Maybe there’s a charitable donation involved, maybe to a hunger organization or the American Cancer Society? you say.
Nope.
Just two greedy chefs.
I’m completely fucking disgusted and I’m never setting foot in any of their restaurants ever again.
But shortly after posting this tirade, Catherine received an email from Nick Kokonas, co-owner of Alinea, that convinced her to eat her words. She explains that the price point was chosen because the menu will include “top-notch caviar and other expensive ingredients,” as well as wine pairings, “many of which will be vintage champagnes and other library wines.” The price also includes tax, tip, and the costs of Keller’s new book, Under Pressure: Cooking Sous Vide, and Achatz’s cookbook, Alinea, which retail at $75 and $50, respectively, and will be given to each guest. The price will also make it possible to fly at least eight chefs to New York for additional kitchen support. With this in mind, the price seems a bit more reasonable. But seriously, three grand for dinner for two? Could any meal be worth that much?
Posted by
| Tuesday, September 30, 2008 at 12:35pm
| 5 comments
Tagged with: thomas keller, grant achatz, time out new york, per se, alinea, food and other musings, under pressure, nick kokonas, most expensive, media
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I'm with Catherine... and that's a lousy explanation from Kokonas.... so, from his perspective, it may not be as much about greed as it may be about ego? what's your point, Nick? forget it...
This does not seem outrageous to me, people spend that much money on one "event" such as great seats at exclusive concerts and sporting events.
I do not see this as any different. Its hard to imagine a more exciting meal.
Chefs are not allowed to make money for their services?
I am sure they are very worried about this boycott as well, look for empty tables and 1/2 off coupons at Per Se, TFL and Alinea soon.
Most expensive dinner? At $1500? Not even close!
Just a few counterexamples:
Famed restaurant critic Craig Claiborne had a $4000 dinner (paid for by American Express as a publicity stunt). The kicker? That was in 1976! It would be quite a bit more in today's dollars.
The one that had the most publicity until recently (and was in Guinness as the most expensive) was a meal for three at La Gavroche in London, in 1997. The cost was $20,945 for three people, most of that amount being spent on wine.
Finally, what's usually touted nowadays as the most expensive dinner was about a year ago in Bangkok - that one came in at a whopping $25,000 to $35,000 per person, depending which account you read.
So, a mere $1500 a head? Piffle!
2 of us. 2 jumbo shrimp cocktails. 2 Rib Eyes (cooked by Juan & Pedro). 2 bottles of Screaming Eagle. After dinner cordials. Check was $2700. Chefs had no cookbooks and we couldn't even speak with them because they didn't speak English. And this was in Rye (NY).
To have these two guys behind the line cooking for the room is amazing and cheap! $1500 with everything included? I would go but I have both books already. :)
wait a minute, antrogers1964: I'm a little confused by your post... you were happy to pay $2,700 for shrimp cocktails, rib eye, some very good wine and after dinner drinks? i feel light-headed... that's unacceptable, that meal cannot be worth that kind of money! you could do virtually the same dish at home.. heck, come to my house and bring that $2,700 with you (small bills, unmarked and non-sequential, please)... these insanely-priced meals by celebrity chefs is getting to be like a circus, a magic act... food cost, preparation, skill, celebrity name: it still doesn't add up...
overall, I find this practice irresponsible, no matter how much money you have in the bank... I hope that everyone willing to shell out thousands of dollars for FOOD is also racing to donate thousands to a FOOD BANK (or at least some other charity, food-related or not)...