MEXICO CITY: Shrimp, caviar, truffle and gold flakes aren’t standard ingredients in Mexico’s popular tacos. But chef Juan Licerio Alcala uses them to create the world’s most expensive taco at $25,000.
No one has ordered one. Yet.
The handheld dish made of a corn or wheat tortilla folded around a filling is low-cost fare in Mexico.
Licerio, the chef at the Grand Velas Los Cabos Resort, a luxury vacation destination in Baja California, told AFP he decided to think outside the box.
“People are excited and a little surprised about how you can eat a taco for $25,000 (497,000 pesos) when you can find one on the street for 10 pesos,” he said.
“Then I explain the delicacy, the technique and the harmony that they will lift from the plate, and that it’s worth it.”
To make the over-the-top dish, the chef takes a corn tortilla speckled with 24 carat gold flakes and fills it with Kobe beef, shrimp, Almas Beluga caviar and black truffle Brie cheese.
The taco is dressed with a salsa based on Morita chiles and civet coffee, a pricey liquid made from the fermented droppings of a civet which has eaten the berries of a coffee plant.
For good measure, gold flakes are sprinkled on top.
A week after the outrageously pricey dish hit the menu, no one has ordered it, the chef admitted.
But he said many have shown interest, mostly US customers who like to “push the boundaries.”
Ordering the world’s most expensive taco has its own particular method. First, a customer has to put down a $12,500 deposit and already be staying in the presidential suite.
The dish is presented in the middle of the desert encircled by motorcycles, or during a marriage proposal.
“We can adjust to the guest,” Licerio said.
If money is no object, the chef has just the tipple to complement the taco: the luxury tequila Pasion Azteca, at $150,000 a bottle.
Mexican chef creates $25,000 taco — but no takers yet
Mexican chef creates $25,000 taco — but no takers yet
Where We Are Going Today: Lady Finger Slow Bar in Riyadh
RIYADH: A comfortable little spot in Al-Mutamarat, Lady Finger Slow Bar has quickly become one of my favorite coffee spots in Riyadh.
The interior is calm and decorated with a maroon, beige, black and white palette with little pops of color here and there.
The space is open and bright without being too harsh, and the outdoor seating underneath the columns is perfect cozy hangout space in the winter.
Their coffee is, of course, fantastic, whether you get black, V60, Americano, or any milk variation — my personal favorite is the flat white because the espresso to milk ratio is just ideal.
Coconut and almond alternative milk options are also available, in addition to lactose-free, low-fat and full fat.
I would also recommend trying the coffee of the day, a daily rotation of different beans for those who love to test out new coffee flavors.
Lady Finger is also definitely famous for their desserts, with people constantly grabbing a cup of tiramisu, Oreo pudding, or banana pudding from their fridge all day as they are coming and going. The banana pudding is a crowd favorite; it is creamy with a balanced sweetness that makes it delicious.
During the day, the cafe also serves a breakfast menu complete with a selection of classic sandwiches, eggs and pancakes, or brioche for a sweet breakfast option.
I have to say the turkey sandwich is just OK; the fillings and the bread were great but I would have liked a different sauce that was less citrusy.
The eggs with sourdough, pancakes, and club sandwich are all solid choices for your breakfast or mid-day meal — and the tuna sandwich is taking up space in my mind so I have to try it the next time I go.
Overall, Lady Finger is a wonderful place to relax, catch up with some friends, and get some work done while enjoying a great cup of coffee and maybe a little something sweet one the side.
I also have to give it to the servers at this spot. They are very friendly and accommodating, and they only enhance the welcoming and comfortable vibe inside the cafe.
Take advantage of this beautiful weather we have been having and grab a seat outside with a cup of hot chocolate topped with mini marshmallows, and decadent chocolate sauce to really feel the warmth of the season.
