Thought the burger was the ultimate in inelegant eating? Well think again. Fine dining has turned the humble burger into a true culinary indulgence, and we have found some of the most luxurious, and the most expensive burgers, to wet your appetite.
The Douche Burger, $666, NYC
The Douche Burger is actually a mockery of the expensive burger phenomenon. Created in New York City, the cheeseburger features a Kobe beef patty wrapped in gold leaf, foie gras, caviar, lobster, truffles, imported aged Gruyere cheese, melted with champagne steam, a kopi luwak barbeque sauce and Himalayan rock salt. Of the burger, Franz Aliquo, its creator, says, “It’s a satirical expression of these burgers that people make and try to sell in all seriousness. It’s a Frankenstein of burgers”.
Le Burger Extravagant, $295, NYC
As well as offering the world’s most expensive ice cream sundae, New York City’s Serendipity 3 has recently re-launched Le Burger Extravagant. The burger itself consists of a Japanese Waygu beef patty infused with 10-herb white truffle butter and seasoned with smoked sea salt. The cheeseburger is adorned with a cheddar cheese aged for 18 months by famed cheesemaker James Montgomery. Of course, shaved black truffles can also be expected, as well as a fried quails egg, a blini, crème fraiche and Kaluga caviar all on a white truffle-buttered Campagna roll. In addition, a solid gold toothpick encrusted with diamonds keeps the beautiful thing together.
The Tri-Beef Burger, $125, Florida
Created in 2006 at the Old Homestead Steakhouse in Boca Raton, Florida, the Tri-Beef Burger was made up of a blend of three different kinds of beef – American Prime, Japanese Wagyu and Argentine beef. The burger came served with Chipotle ketchup, the ingredients of which included truffles and champagne. Missed the burger in 2006? You can still visit one of the Old Homestead Steakhouse locations today and order a 20oz Kobe burger for around $40.
The 777 Burger, $77 or $777 with a bottle of Dom Pérignon, Las Vegas
This expensive burger features Maine lobster atop a Kobe beef burger adorned with caramelized onions, Brie, crispy prosciutto and 100-year-aged balsamic vinegar. The real price of this burger, however, comes from the optional bottle of Rosé Dom Pérignon.
The DB “Royale” Double Truffle Burger, $120, Las Vegas/NYC
Chef Daniel Boulud, of Bar Boulud at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park in Knightsbridge, gave his version of the classic burger a decadent twist. The burger was stuffed with off the bone, red wine-braised short ribs, and included foie gras, a mix of root vegetables and preserved black truffle and was topped off with a double serving of fresh black truffles. The burger was served on a toasted parmesan and poppy seed bun and fresh condiments including horseradish and roasted tomato confit. In Knightsbridge, however, a very similar burger, with a few less truffles, can be yours for just £19.50.
