There, I said it. Had some Wagyu A5, genuine certified import from Japan prepared by an actual chef on a handful of occasions. The last one was on Saturday as part of a business conference in the exec suite of some fancy hotel, talking to potential investors.
The set menu cost the equivalent of $700 per person, wines not included.
And. I. still. don’t. like. it.
The meat is simply too rich, too soft, too greasy. There’s no bite to it. Every time I try it, it reminds me of sucking on a piece of beef flavored butter. A slightly solidified cube of beef lard.
Just give me a Black Angus rump or sirloin steak if you must, that’s pretentious enough at a fraction of the cost and provides such a nicer eating experience.
And please, PLEASE, for the love of everything holy, don’t give me Wagyu cubes topped of with steamed foie gras. That’s akin to buttering your lard. Maybe in 50 years when all my teeth are gone, I’ll appreciate being able to grind down a piece of beef between my gums. But as it stands, the Wagyu hype couldn’t die fast enough.
/rant
Many foods for the wealthy, especially at occasions like you mention are not there to taste good. The purpose of these foods is to signal class distinction to the group.
Which explains the popularity of adding Gold to food and drink. It is literally just to make it expensive and therefore exclusive
Yep, they like things that are out-of-reach, impractical, difficult to acquire, rare, and ridiculous to normal people.
I can’t exactly judge. My classic game collection has some stupid titles just sitting there barely ever being played. My record collection has a few of those too. I got a record on my shelf by one of my favorite artists that I’ll never listen to because I hate it. It’s sealed, just sitting there so I can say, “Yes chuck, and if you’ll look over here I have the complete collection. Some very rare records there! Only 300 of this one in existence. It’s a terrible record!”
I can’t tell you why I’m like that either. Just part of human nature I guess and it scales with wealth.
If I can’t get a damn good deal though, I just don’t get it, whatever it is. I got my Mega Man NES collection (all 5) for 40 bucks.
Huge difference between your little ‘extravagances’ in your game collection and spending $700 on something you are going to flush down the toilet in a few hours. Yours is a tangible investment, the orher not so much.
Excellent point.
I think collecting stuff you appreciate is different from buying expensive/rare type things for signalling. If you love caviar, cool, if you serve caviar to make your party more posh you’re signalling.
You’re right.
Yeah and then you poop glitter. The canal workers are gotta be mightily impressed.
I agree, but Wagyu is hyped all around, so some people must actually like it.
From all the “rich people foods” I’d say lobster is the one I truly love. Beluga caviar is nice but way overpriced, and oysters are just the devil’s snot. Baked and with a pile of minced garlic they are barely palatable.