Archive for January, 2009

 

From coffee made of poop, to lucky fish; here are some of the world’s priciest foods

Ever wondered what it would be like if you were a millionaire? Here is a look at the type of menu you could afford.

Edible gold leaves: A small shaker of this glitzy ingredient will set you back R290 and a pack of 25 small sheets of gold leaves will cost R727. (Think I’ll stick to lettuce.)

White truffles (Alba truffles): These aphrodisiacs cannot be grown just anywhere and you need trained boars and dogs to find them. For 450g of Alba truffles fanatics will fork out anything from R58 200 to R97 000. (Holy shroom!)

Beluga sturgeon caviar: If you want to lead the ultimate hedonistic lifestyle, then caviar is the way to go. Taken from Beluga sturgeon that lives in the Caspian Sea, these tiny eggs cost R38 800 for 450g.

Spice: Saffron is the world’s most expensive spice. This delicious spice, taken from the saffron crocus flower, has to be handpicked. Only the stamens (three per flower), are used. Half a kilogram of saffron requires 50 000 to 75 000 flowers (one football field), and costs R14 550.

Kobe beef: The Waygu cattle from Japan are fed only the best grains, drink beer (which fattens them up) and are hand massaged with sake (rice wine). This preparation improves the flavour and texture of the meat and gives it that perfect marbled look. This succulent, juicy beef costs about R1 500 for 450g. (You won’t find this at your nearest Spur.)

Civet coffee: Taken from the droppings of civet cats. The civets eat coffee cherries and once the beans have passed through their digestive system are collected and ground into coffee. Apparently the civets’ digestive enzymes make the coffee less acidic. This exotic coffee costs just under a R1000 for medium bag. (Even so, I don’t think I want pooped beans to be my morning wake up call.)

Vanilla beans: This everyday ingredient is actually the second most expensive spice in the world at about R500 for 450g. This is because the flowers are hand pollinated, picked, dried and cured resulting in that rich fragrant flavour.

Golden Tigerfish: According to Reuters this rare Golden Tigerfish was sold for R6 925 per 450g to a restaurant in China. It was believed that fish was an omen of good luck. (Not for the unlucky one who had to pay for it.)

Macadamia nuts: You wouldn’t think it but macadamia nuts are the most expensive nut in the world. It takes the tree seven to ten years to start popping them out. One kilogram costs about R290.

Potato: The world’s most expensive potato is the French la bonnotte. Taken from the Noirmoutier Island, only 100 tons are produced per year. These spectacular spuds, fertilised with seaweed, cost R6 624 per kilogram.

Pizza Royale: A chef in Scotland says he’s created what he believes is the world’s most expensive pizza pie, and he plans to sell it on eBay for around R40 000. Domenico Crolla’s “Pizza Royale 007″ features champagne-soaked caviar and lobster marinated in high-end cognac, and is topped with 24-carat gold shavings.

Chocolate: The Chocopologie truffles made by Knipschildt; contains one black truffle and is made of 70% Valrhona cacao, which is blended into a creamy ganache with truffle oil. One truffle will only set you back about R2 500. (That’s one seriously expensive sweet tooth fix.)

What is the most expensive ingredient or product you’ve ever bought?

 

Source: food24.com

Legendary Grammy Losers Quiz

Which rock god never won a Grammy? And which boy band is the biggest loser? Forget the winners, take our Legendary Grammy Losers Quiz!

Losers Quiz

 

 

President George W Bush will leave behind a legacy of Bushisms, the label stamped on the commander-in-chief’s original speaking style. Here are some of his more notable malaprops and mangled statements:

- “I know the human being and fish can coexist peacefully.” – September 2000, explaining his energy policies at an event in Michigan.

- “They misunderestimated the compassion of our country. I think they misunderestimated the will and determination of the commander-in-chief, too.” – September 26, 2001, in Langley, Virginia. Bush was referring to the terrorists who carried out the September 11 attacks.

- “There’s no doubt in my mind, not one doubt in my mind, that we will fail.” – October 4, 2001, in Washington. Bush was remarking on a back-to-work plan after the terrorist attacks.

- “It would be a mistake for the United States Senate to allow any kind of human cloning to come out of that chamber.” – April 10, 2002, at the White House, as Bush urged Senate passage of a broad ban on cloning.

- “I want to thank the dozens of welfare-to-work stories, the actual examples of people who made the firm and solemn commitment to work hard to embetter themselves.” – April 18, 2002, at the White House.

- “There’s an old saying in Tennessee – I know it’s in Texas, probably in Tennessee – that says, fool me once, shame on – shame on you. Fool me – you can’t get fooled again.” – September 17, 2002, in Nashville, Tennessee.

- “Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we.” – August 5, 2004, at the signing ceremony for a defence spending bill.

- “Too many good docs are getting out of business. Too many OB/GYNs aren’t able to practice their love with women all across this country.” – September 6, 2004, at a rally in Poplar Bluff, Missouri.

- “Our most abundant energy source is coal. We have enough coal to last for 250 years, yet coal also prevents an environmental challenge.” – April 20, 2005, in Washington.

- “We look forward to hearing your vision, so we can more better do our job.” – September 20, 2005, in Gulfport, Mississippi.

- “I can’t wait to join you in the joy of welcoming neighbours back into neighbourhoods, and small businesses up and running, and cutting those ribbons that somebody is creating new jobs.” – September 5, 2005, when Bush met with residents of Poplarville, Mississippi, in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

- “It was not always a given that the United States and America would have a close relationship. After all, 60 years we were at war 60 years ago we were at war.” – June 29, 2006, at the White House, where Bush met with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.

- “Make no mistake about it, I understand how tough it is, sir. I talk to families who die.” – December 7, 2006, in a joint appearance with British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

- “These are big achievements for this country, and the people of Bulgaria ought to be proud of the achievements that they have achieved.” – June 11, 2007, in Sofia, Bulgaria.

- “Mr Prime Minister, thank you for your introduction. Thank you for being such a fine host for the Opec summit.” – September 2007, in Sydney, Australia, where Bush was attending an Apec summit.

- “Thank you, Your Holiness. Awesome speech.” April 16, 2008, at a ceremony welcoming Pope Benedict XVI to the White House.

- “The fact that they purchased the machine meant somebody had to make the machine. And when somebody makes a machine, it means there’s jobs at the machine-making place.” – May 27, 2008, in Mesa, Arizona.

- “And they have no disregard for human life.” – July 15, 2008, at the White House. Bush was referring to enemy fighters in Afghanistan.

- “I remember meeting a mother of a child who was abducted by the North Koreans right here in the Oval Office.” – June 26, 2008, during a Rose Garden news briefing.

- “Throughout our history, the words of the Declaration have inspired immigrants from around the world to set sail to our shores. These immigrants have helped transform 13 small colonies into a great and growing nation of more than 300 people.” – July 4, 2008 in Virginia.

- “The people in Louisiana must know that all across our country there’s a lot of prayer – prayer for those whose lives have been turned upside down. And I’m one of them. It’s good to come down here.” – September 3, 2008, at an emergency operations centre in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, after Hurricane Gustav hit the Gulf Coast.

- “This thaw – took a while to thaw, it’s going to take a while to unthaw.” – October 20, 2008, in Alexandria, Louisiana, as he discussed the economy and frozen credit markets

Source: news24