March 24th, 2014
05:00 PM ET
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The $250 burger: behind the beefed-up bill

One beeeeeelion years ago (okay, 13), chef Daniel Boulud's DB Bistro Moderne unleashed the Original db Burger uponst the New York dining public. Yea and verily, they quaked and drooled in the face of the "monster burger's" lavish short rib, foie gras and truffle-stuffed extravagance - and its then-unparalleled $27 price tag.

Boulud's seasonally-available Double Truffle Burger variant was, for a time, Guinness World Records-certified as the world's most expensive burger. Its $120-$150 cost has since been topped by others including Serendipity 3's limited-time $295 "Le Burger Extravagant," made from white truffle butter-infused Japanese Wagyu beef, topped with James Montgomery cheddar cheese, black truffles and a fried quail egg and served on a gold-dusted campagna roll spread with white truffle butter.

Blini, creme fraiche and caviar added to the beefy tally, but this might make the whole thing a little easier to swallow: Bowery Mission, which serves homeless and hungry New Yorkers, was the beneficiary of the profits.

And in between lies Beer and Buns new B & B Indulgence burger. While the restaurant's standard "DC White House" (marinated ground beef, lettuce, tomato and pickles on a brioche bun) sets customers back a mere $7.50, the specialty artisanally-bunned Kobe beef, Sauternes-sauteed foie gras, pancetta, heirloom tomato, fresh truffle and Beluga caviar-decked version must be ordered a day ahead of time, and costs a cool, crisp $250.

In the video above, Wisit Panpinyo ("Chef Nok" to his friends) explains the method behind his bullish burger pricing.

Previously:
Man builds $141.33 'McEverything' dream sandwich
Got a spare $168,000? Thirsty? Have we got the wine for you!

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Filed under: Burgers • Expensive • Restaurants • Sandwiches • Stunt

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soundoff (8 Responses)
  1. alwaysamuzed

    As far as I know, since the meticulous raising and messaging of Kobe beef is SO labor intensive, that Japan produces only enough Kobe beef to satisfy their own market. A while back, Japan officially BANNED all exports of Kobe beef, making Japan the one and only place in the world where you can actually buy GENUINE Kobe beef! Anyone "claiming" to sell Kobe beef here in the U. S. is likely pulling a scam or has beeen scammed by a beef supplier!
    Don't waste your money on ANYTHING claiming to be "Kobe beef" anywhere OTHER than Japan!

    March 26, 2014 at 10:28 am |
    • apd

      This is from wiki:

      Prior to 2012, Kobe beef was not exported. The first exports, in February 2012, were to Macao. Since then, exports have also been made to Hong Kong, the United States, Singapore and Thailand.[11]

      March 30, 2014 at 9:38 am |
      • Stands For

        WIKI stands for Wasted Inquiry, Knowledge Insufficient.

        March 31, 2014 at 7:07 am |
  2. Tony N

    It costs $250 because you get a free consultation to a heart doctor, and a years supply of cholesterol reducing medication!

    March 25, 2014 at 9:25 pm |
  3. Carn E. Vore

    Hey, if you can afford it, enjoy it. Me, I'll stick to grilling my own.

    March 25, 2014 at 11:50 am |
  4. macksmith345

    Hi,
    I don't understand that why this burger cost is $250 because it's looking just an ordinary burger and his cost is $250 unbelievable.

    ........................

    Catering On The Move

    March 25, 2014 at 4:36 am |
    • Evets

      Did you bother to read the article? Didn't think so.

      March 26, 2014 at 6:39 am |
  5. Thinking things through

    I think there are certain venues, just on consideration of the above, are places I won't be spending my hard-earned cash.

    March 24, 2014 at 7:27 pm |
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