Upscale New York City Eatery Introduces $200 French Fries

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell might be interested in a recent development on Manhattan’s Upper East Side where a plate of french fries priced at $200 is turning heads and stretching the boundaries of haute cuisine.

This extravagant offering comes from the restaurant Serendipity 3, which already boasts world records for the most expensive burger priced at $295 and an ice cream sundae costing $1,000. Guinness World Records has officially certified these fries as the most expensive on the planet as of July 13.

The dish, named “Crème de la Crème Pommes Frites,” starts with Chipperbec potatoes, which are blanched in a mixture of vinegar and champagne. The frying process involves pure goose fat—rather than oil—and is executed twice, ensuring a crispy exterior and a fluffy interior.

To elevate the luxury factor, the fries are adorned with edible gold and seasoned with truffle salt and truffle oil. The presentation involves serving them on a crystal plate alongside an orchid, thin-sliced truffles, and a Mornay cheese dip. The cheese dip is infused with truffles, emphasizing the rare and seasonal mushroom’s prominence in the dish.

Serendipity’s creative director and chef, Joe Calderone, describes the restaurant as “a happy place” where people come to celebrate and escape the realities of life. Corporate executive chef Frederick Schoen-Kiewert emphasizes that truffles are the star of this extravagant creation.

The restaurant, like many others, faced closure during the COVID-19 pandemic. To mark its return, Calderone and Schoen-Kiewert conceived the idea of these fancy fries. The strategy has proven successful, with an eight- to ten-week waitlist for the coveted dish.

Reflecting on the past year and a half, Calderone notes that it has been a challenging period for everyone, and he believes it’s time to have some fun.

Serendipity 3 has a history of offering indulgent and record-breaking culinary creations. The $295 burger, known as the “Le Burger Extravagant,” features a Wagyu beef patty infused with white truffle butter and seasoned with Himalayan salt. The $1,000 “Golden Opulence Sundae” includes Tahitian vanilla bean ice cream, rare chocolates, and a 23-karat gold leaf.

This latest addition to Serendipity’s menu continues the tradition of pushing the boundaries of luxury dining, providing patrons with an extravagant and memorable experience. Whether it catches the attention of Jerome Powell for its potential impact on inflation is another matter, but in the world of haute cuisine, it stands as a symbol of indulgence and culinary opulence.