Super Luxury Gifts for the Foodie Who Has Everything

Food is the universal gift: chocolates for a teacher, wine for a colleague, spices and candies as a travel souvenir for friends. A nicely packaged edible makes a fitting gift for almost any occasion. But what about that person in your life who seems to have, well, everything? And what if that person is a self-proclaimed foodie? Selecting a bottle of bubbly suddenly becomes much more daunting.

We scoured the globe (via the internet, that is) to find luxury gifts that would impress even the most discerning—and wealthiest—of gourmands. Check out this list of beyond-gourmet goods to treat that special someone. Just as soon as you can afford it.—Eva Meszaros

Kopi Luwak (Civet) Coffee Beans from Indonesia

It’ll Cost You: $120 per ½ lb. Arabica Roasted

Your cup of joe is only as good as the beans it comes from, so this rare, exotic—and unusual—Indonesian coffee bean might be the wealthy coffee addict’s fancy. These coffee beans are harvested from the rainforest floors, but only after undergoing some “processing”: The civet, a tree-dwelling mammal that looks half-raccoon, half-leopard, ingests the bean, an appetizing but ultimately indigestible snack. After it passes the bean (to put it mildly) the remnant is scooped up for harvest, and sold for anywhere from $100 to several hundred dollars per pound. Must make a decent roast at that price, right? Actually, the price tag is more for the rarity than the quality. But at least your giftee will have something to brag about—we think.

Website: Animalcoffee.com (also available here and here)

David's Signature Beyond Gourmet Jelly Beans from Leaf Brands

It’ll Cost You: $500

This is not a treat for the kids. David Klein has teamed up with candymaker Leaf Brands to come up with an assuredly unique twist on a candy classic. Coated in 24-karat edible gold leaf, Beyond Gourmet Jelly Beans takes flavor inspiration from haute cuisine and exotic flavors, resulting in the product’s first two lines: David’s Master Selection and the Sweet, Salty, Savory and Hot Collection. Each collection comprises 16 flavors, which include Bacon, Thai Chili, Himalayan Sea Salt, Ginger, Mango and Guava. So instead of combining Peanut Butter and Grape jelly beans to make a PB&J “sandwich” bean, these beans will let you create Thai Lemongrass Curry or Indian Mango Chutney.

Website: Leaf Brands

7-7-7 Burger from Le Burger Brasserie, Las Vegas

It’ll Cost You: $777

If you find yourself having a lucky night in Vegas, head straight for Le Burger Brasserie so you can lose it all to a great meal instead of the next hand of bad cards. Made with Kobe beef and Maine lobster, this hearty burger is heightened in flavor and class with caramelized onions, imported Brie, crispy pancetta and a 100-year-aged balsamic. Enjoy a bottle of Dom Perignon Rose from Champagne, France (the restaurant is located in Paris, Las Vegas, after all) and toast the lucky night. This plate will make you feel like a million bucks—but cost you only $777.

Website: Le Burger Brasserie

Golden Opulence Sundae from Serendipity 3

It’ll Cost You: $1,000

Taking a loved one out for a nice meal is always a memorable treat. But to make it really unforgettable, take them to New York City’s Serendipity 3 for a sweet indulgence unlike any other. This sundae starts with five heaping scoops of single-source ice cream, using Tahitian vanilla beans; followed by a drizzling of chocolate syrup melted from Amedei Porcelana—among the world’s most expensive chocolates; and then adorned with candied fruits, gold-dipped almonds, chocolate truffles and marzipan cherries. And the cherry on top: a 23-karat gold leaf, and sprinkles of gold flakes, for good measure. Take note, the restaurant requests 48 hours’ notice if you plan on plunking down for this delicate dessert. On the plus side, you might get a few bites of it yourself.

Website: Serendipity 3

Travel the World Through Chocolate Steamer Trunk from Vosges

It’ll Cost You: $1,045

Box of chocolates won’t cut it? How about a suitcase of chocolates? This gorgeous trunk from Vosges, makers of exotic truffles and enormously popular chocolate bars, including the Bacon Bar and sofi Award winner Black Salt Caramel Bar DENNIS, LINK TO SOFI PAGE, is brimming with delectable sweet treats. Each vintage steamer trunk is handpicked by founder Katrina Markoff, packed with every product in the permanent Vosges collection. That includes dozens of truffles, caramels, bonbons and more, totaling about 50 pounds (including the case). The around-the-world theme permeates this gift, through maps and notes speckled with Markoff’s thoughts and stories about her creative process. Sure to give anyone the travel bug—and intense chocolate cravings.

Website: Vosges Haut-Chocolat

Louis XIII pizza pie from Chef Renato Viola, Salerno, Italy

It’ll Cost You: $12,000 (€8,300)

Think of it as the epitome of pizza delivery. For twelve grand, Italian pizza maker Renato Viola will bring his team (including an assistant and sommelier) anywhere in Italy to prepare you a divine pie at your request. Anywhere. The process begins 72 hours in advance, to give the dough enough time to rest and become part of the best most expensive pizza you’ll ever eat. (Chef Viola’s website shows no shame; below the Louis XIII name lies its accurate description: “Very Expensive Pizza”—only slightly more humble than the Italian version of the site, which gloats “Most Expensive Pizza in the World.”) Atop this well-rested dough you’ll find eight types of cheeses, including the famed mozzarella di bufala and varieties of caviar, lobster and shrimp. The pizza is seasoned with hand-picked grains of Australian pink salt and comes with drink accompaniments, including Remy Martin cognac, Clos du Mesnil Champagne and Cardenal Mendoza Carta Real brandy. Buon appetito.

Website: Renato Viola Pizza Style

Japanese Coffee Siphon Bar from Ueshima Coffee Company

It’ll Cost You: $20,000

Before fitting San Francisco’s Blue Bottle Café with the mother of all siphon bars, the café’s owner spent years in talks with the Japanese importer, Ueshima Coffee Company. This piece of machinery—whose sleek design evokes the Industrial Era, science-fiction novels and steampunk aesthetic—goes beyond professional coffee-making into the realm of java fanaticism. “If you just want equipment, you’re not ready,” said UCC’s Jay Egami in a New York Times story about the siphon’s first-ever appearance in the U.S. If $20,000 is too rich for your blood, there’s always the $11,000 Clover, which brews one cup at a time and is used in several progressive coffee shops around the country, including Café Grumpy in New York City and Intelligentsia in Chicago.

Website: Ueshima Coffee Company

—Eva Meszaros

1 comment

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