Daisy and the $777 Burger Blowout in Vegas

Original post at Daisy's lovely blog, http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog....

When You Consider that the well off capitalist in the Yangtze River Gorge makes $24 a month, the mind boggles.

September 5, 2008 - Friday

What Would be on YOUR $777 Hamburger? Current mood: curious Category: Life

My husband and I watched a show on the Travel Channel the other night called Super Swank. It was all about what the exceedingly rich do Las Vegas when it comes to dining, hotels, gambling, special favors, etc.

Wow. What an eye-popping program. The $20,000 to $40,000 per night hotel rooms were mindboggling—especially the ones that were 4,000 square feet in size, larger than the average house. The personal shoppers selecting $8,000 purses and $350,000 evening gowns for mega-bucks hotel guests simple astonished. The one-of-a-kind super-pricey jewelry shown at viewing tables inside a vault was unbelievable.

But it was the $777 hamburger that really caught my attention.

It's offered by the Le Burger Brasserie in the Paris Hotel. What do you get for your $777? Six-ounces of Kobe beef topped with caramelized onions, brie cheese, crispy prosciutto, 100-year aged balsamic vinegar and Maine lobster. It comes with a side of dressed greens and a bottle of Dom Perignon. Oh, and a pickle spear. Sheesh, you'd think they'd at least throw in a lousy handful of fries, wouldn't you?

That segment of the show got me thinking about how the ultra-rich spend their money. How much money, how many figures, would you have to make to think that spending $777 for a burger was reasonable? For the life of me, I simply can't imagine.

The guilt alone would totally ruin the dining experience for me when I'd think that each one of those bites I took cost more than enough to feed a good number of people in need.

Even if I were filthy rich and highly philanthropic, I'd still have one hell of a hard time trying to justify throwing THAT kind of money away on a damn sandwich. How do those wealthy people do it? WHY do they do it?

So I got to wondering if, on my next royalty check, I realized that the astounding mega-sales of my books had suddenly catapulted me into the Super Swank $800 Burger Affordability Category. (Don't laugh. It could happen.) Let's say the disorienting realization of all that stupendous wealth rendered me temporarily insane enough to immediately fly to Vegas and actually fork over $777 for that cutesy sandwich with the Dom chaser.

What would I want on it? What would have to be on a burger so pricey it sends the Le Burger Brasserie restaurant proprietor laughing all the way to the bank each time some moneyed yahoo orders it to impress his big-bucks buddies?

Ketchup. It would definitely have to have ketchup because I can't eat a hamburger without it. But I suppose I'd have to upgrade from Heinz. Maybe Le Burger Brasserie has $300 bottles of ketchup made from rare thousand year old tomatoes in their pantry. Sautéed mushrooms would be nice. Guess I'd be expected to substitute truffles though… Gee, I don't know. There are so many options.

What do YOU think?

Go ahead and deconstruct the famous $777 burger detailed above and build your own insanely expensive version instead. Remember, you're going to pay an outrageous sum for those few mouthfuls, so make sure your burger includes everything necessary to make it the most perfect, sublime, memorable burger of all time.

Tell me about all about it in the comments section!

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From Ellora's Cave (http://www.ellorascave.com): Last Strathulian Standing (fantasy shape-shifter) Coming October 10! Samantha and her Genie (erotic paranormal Rubenesque) Absolutely Not (contemporary erotic romantic comedy) Finding Cupid (erotic romantic comedy fantasy) Polly's Perilous Pleasures (contemporary erotic romantic comedy) Caroline's Christmas Viking (contemporary paranormal erotic romantic comedy) Wicked Payback (paranormal erotic romance with plenty of humor) Accidental Foursome (contemporary erotic romantic comedy) Wednesday Nights with Jamie (contemporary interracial erotic romantic comedy/drama) Forever, Blue Eyes (WWII 20th century historical erotic romance)

From Samhain Publishing (http://www.samhainpublishing.com/): Just Like a Dame (contemporary erotic romantic comedy) Also available in Print!

3:20 AM - 8 Comments - 9 Kudos - Add Comment -

Jude's Place

Don't think I can actually answer your main question of what I would want on a $777 burger, cause I can't picture any food that expensive that I'll actually eat! LOL...but I will answer what I would have to earn so that such a ridiculous price might not seem so ridiculous. It basically boils down to a simple decimal point. Since I would only be willing to pay about $7 for a burger now and make a 5 figure salary, that would mean moving the decimal point over by 2. So I would need to have at least a 7 figure (million $) salary to spend that much (relatively speaking). LOL :)

And yes, I agree. Why can't they throw a measly handful of fries on the plate? They could make them nice like adding Parmesan and garlic (I just love those!)

Posted by Jude's Place on September 4, 2008 - Thursday 3:12 PM [Reply to this]

Daisy Dexter Dobbs

I like your astute financial figuring, Jude. It makes sense. Hmmm...I think we'd have to sell at least three or four more books per month to reach that 7 figure group by the end of the year. LOL

Mmmm...parmesan and garlic on fries...

Thanks,

--Daisy

Posted by Daisy Dexter Dobbs on September 5, 2008 - Friday 10:05 AM [Reply to this]

Kealie Shay

I have to agree, I'd feel WAY too guilty spending that much money on a piece of meat slapped between two pieces of bread. I live in Vegas, and that whole story is the main reason I avoid the Strip unless I have to go there.

• Sigh* I guess if I HAD to build a burger: it could be absolutely regular with lettuce, tomato, pickle, ketchup, mustard... but it would be served on some Gorgeous DemiGod's six-pack abs.

Posted by Kealie Shay on September 5, 2008 - Friday 2:52 AM [Reply to this]

Daisy Dexter Dobbs

Wow, Kealie, living in Vegas must provide some interesting experiences, as well as the occasional celebrity spotting. I think that's cool!

I'm with you on the six-pack abs instead of some boring old china plate. ;-)

Thanks,

--Daisy

Posted by Daisy Dexter Dobbs on September 5, 2008 - Friday 10:09 AM [Reply to this]

Bob

Let's see, my favorite hamburger is from a place called The Assembly. I'd order a 10 ounce patty, ground from fresh sirloin, grilled to just medium but still juicy enough to drip all over my hands, cover it with mozzerella cheese and three strips of crispy bacon. To assuage my guilt, I'd add some lettuce to the top and - yes - a side order of perfect fries. I think that burger runs about $8 (say $7.77).

Now, when would I pay 100 times that much? Probably when I could get above mentioned burger for around 2 points rather than the current 65 (i.e. three days' worth of food). Weight Watchers is a tough road to hoe sometimes!

I wonder if they ask to super size at Le Burger Expensieve?

Posted by Bob on September 5, 2008 - Friday 2:53 AM [Reply to this]

Daisy Dexter Dobbs

Mmmm, that hamburger you detailed sounds delicious, Bob! And you even get a 10-oz burger instead of a measly 6-oz!

Ah yes, I imagine the $777 burger could be squeezed into your daily allotment of WW points. Just think of your TV commercial... "That's right folks, I lost 25-pounds for ONLY $777 per day!" LOL

Thanks,

--Daisy

Posted by Daisy Dexter Dobbs on September 5, 2008 - Friday 10:14 AM [Reply to this]

CJ

Gosh, Daisy, I love the answers already.

You know, that $777.00 burger would pay for BOTH our car payments... But not the insurance or the gas.

I guess I'd take the insurance on the side and top it off with a tank. Pity there aren't residuals for that. Maybe if I got some gorgeous hunk painted on the hood...

The six-pack abs are a great idea too, but I think my hubby would still object unless he got his (um, sandwich...) between the breasts of a tall blonde. Then I wouldn't be happy unless the Dom was poured over -- wait a minute, I am so not going there!!

Posted by CJ on September 5, 2008 - Friday 9:18 AM [Reply to this]

Daisy Dexter Dobbs

I love everyone's answers too. I get hungry each time I read them.

The last paragraph of your comment cracked me up, Connie. Do I sense an emerging erotic romance writer? ;-)

Thanks,

--Daisy

Posted by Daisy Dexter Dobbs on September 5, 2008 - Friday 10:17 AM [Reply to this]