Tuesday, April 11, 2006

I Want One!


Twenty years ago, as a struggling and penniless sous chef in Paris, Giorgio Locatelli once saved a month’s salary simply to buy a cut of beef. But then it wasn’t just any cut. It was Wagyu, and it was making its European debut as the world’s most expensive meat. On Saturday he tasted it again, though this time it was free. Which was just as well, really, since the rare ingredient, imported from Japan, was the gourmet filling in Britain’s most expensive sandwich — a speciality which goes on sale from Monday at the Sandwich Counter at Selfridge’s, in Oxford Street. So who better than Giorgio, now a celebrity chef and the owner of Locanda Locatelli, the Michelin-starred restaurant, to give it a taste run? “It’s big, isn’t it,” he says, gazing at the sandwich’s creator, Scott McDonald, Selfridge’s executive chef, who, with the practised dexterity of a professional, slices the 21oz sandwich in two. “It’d better be, mate,” says Scott, “it’s £85 for a round.” But is the costly cut worth it? Well, Giorgio was certainly impressed. “Delicious,” he says, struggling not to lose any of the succulent beef as he tries to get his mouth around the sandwich. “Utterly fantastic mixture of tastes. Tangy, sweet... a monster mouthful that would be a really sexy love food to share with a lover. The beef simply melts, it falls apart. I’m impressed.” But just why does it cost so much? The slices of 24-hour fermented sour dough bread are spread with a mayonnaise flavoured with foie gras (£30 a lb) and black truffle (£340 a lb). There is a generous helping of brie de meaux, considered Europe’s finest cheese. The beef itself, comprising a third of the weight of the sandwich, is a snip at £28 a pound. English cherry tomatoes and rocket, plus peppers roasted on a naked flame and then skinned and sliced finely, complete the presentation.

(From the Telegraph)

San Nakji for President!

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

I think my illness is affecting my ability to be hungry.

Though I wouldn't mind eating some of that beef when I am better.

Friar Tuck said...

your diversity of thought and interest as always---amazing

Brotha Buck said...

McDonalds will have to do.

Deepa Bhasthi said...

did you know that for a devout Hindu, beef is taboo? cows are the most sacred animals and its a sin to eat beef. no diff to me, i am a veggie.
just a peep into India for you :-)

Ashley said...

I don't eat beef either. It's because I was vacationing in Europe and the UK when the mad cow thing started in the 1990s. I don't miss it at all. I got turned off of pork and now I am starting to think chicken is disgusting.

The sandwich intrigues me, nonetheless. However, I would take it without the beef.

rubyslipperlady said...

Bring it on! Only, I want mine for free, too. I'm even willing to share.

Beef, it's what's for dinner. Lately, I just can't get enough beef. Must need the iron?

San Nakji said...

Being from a major beef producing nation, it would be unpatriotic of me not to munch on a steak or two!

Chance said...

I want one too.

Frank Partisan said...

I probably could make a cheaper knock off.

San Nakji said...

Would it be the same though? Wagyu beef man!

Tim Rice said...

Fascinating, but not worth the price.

coolbuddha said...

Puts my usual cheese and pickle sarnie to shame (the cheese often has an interesting thumb print on it).

Oricon Ailin said...

Looks quite interesting. I would probably like the samich.

However, I'm with Buck, McDonald's is gonna have to do.