Global gilt-edged gourmet

If you believe, as the saying goes, that ‘you are what you eat,’ then you’ll certainly enjoy supping on some of the world’s most luxurious foods. However, be warned that whether it’s the visual kick of a luxuriously prepared meal, the physical perk of savouring those exclusive ingredients, or just the sheer pleasure of ordering a meal that costs an arm and a leg, consuming A-list edibles is a habit that’s hard to shake.

So if money is no object, why not tantalise your taste buds and give your palate a treat as you follow us on a tour of the world’s gastronomical – often astronomically priced – treats and the best places on the planet to eat them?

GOLDEN OPULENCE SUNDAE, NEW YORK

Where? Serendipity 3, New York, US

What? Created by the New York restaurant where sweet-toothed Andy Warhol once hung out, Serendipity 3’s Golden Opulence Sundae has a price to match one of the Pope of Pop’s oeuvres. For five scoops of Tahitian vanilla-bean ice cream, topped with the world’s priciest Amedei Porcelana chocolate, you’ll shell out $1,000 (approx Dh3,700). You do get to keep the goblet and 18-carat-gold bracelet that it comes with, however.

Don’t miss: One of the world’s greatest art collections at The Metropolitan Museum of Art; a boat ride out to the Statue of Liberty; followed by a show on Broadway.

Spend the night: At the swish, plush, marbledecked Four Seasons Hotel with its luxury spa and superb concierge service.

Getting there: Emirates has direct flights to JFK from Dh5,449.

TIEGUANYIN TEA, TAIPEI CITY

Where? Three Stone Teapot Museum, Taipei City, China

What? First harvested in the 18th century by monkeys, ultra-rare Tieguanyin oolong Chinese green tea is still made by a handful of local artisans in Fujian Province on the southeast coast of China. Rolled into tight wads, the dark green tea with its fruity flavour and sweet, lingering finish fetches 1,700 Yuan (approx Dh1,000) per kilogram. Put your feet up and enjoy a cuppa in situ at the local Three Stone Teapot Museum, run by ninth generation Maokong tea farmer Chang Kun-hung.

Don’t miss: Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall with its strange blue roof, and a stroll through the trendy streets of Ximending.

Spend the night: At the opulent Grand Hotel, one of Tapei’s most stunning places to stay.

Getting there: China Southern has flights via Guangzhou from Dh2,409.

LA BONNOTTE POTATO, PARIS

Where? Plaza Athénée, Paris, France

What? Classed amongst the world’s priciest edibles, La Bonnotte potato – which nearly became extinct between the World Wars – is cultivated exclusively on the French Isle of Noirmoutier. With an annual production of around 20,000kg, the potatoes retail at around €70 (approx Dh350) per kg. Available only from May 1 to May 10, you’ll need to book well in advance if you want to sample this hot potato served with crème fraiche and caviar at Plaza Athénée, Michelin-starred celebrity chef Alain Ducasse’s Paris address.

Don’t miss: A stroll around the Latin Quarter; shopping along the Champs Élysées; and a cruise on the Seine.

Spend the night: At the Plaza Athénée, the exclusive Parisian hotel where stars including Oprah Winfrey and the late Grace Kelly have slept.

Getting there: Air France has direct flights to Paris Charles De Gaulle from Dh3,722.

WHITE TRUFFLES, ALBA

Where? Piazza Duomo, Alba, Italy

What? Dug up by specially trained dogs in the picturesque Italian province of Piedmont, white truffles fetch upwards of €1,500 per kilogram. Believed to have been created by lightning by the ancient Greeks, this costly ingredient is best consumed at Pizza Duomo, chef Enrico Crippa’s Alba restaurant. Order the Accompagnando Il Tartufo menu and you’ll sample a variety of succulent dishes garnished with the precious shavings of this highly priced subterranean fungi.

Don’t miss: Renaissance frescoes in the Gothic church of San Domenico, followed by a visit to the fascinating Municipal Museum of Archaeology.

Spend the night: At Relais Villa d’Amelia, a luxurious hideaway with a wellness centre and heated pool.

Getting there: Emirates has direct flights to Milan from Dh3,632.

DUM PUKHT, NEW DELHI

Where? Dum Pukht restaurant, New Delhi, India

What? The most expensive restaurant serving Indian food in India according to Forbes, Dum Pukht is named for its technique of steam-cooking dreamt up centuries ago for the Nawabs of Awadh. The five-course Royal Repast menu costs around

Rs65,000 (approx Dh4,000) – a small price when you could be dining with the likes of Amitabh Bacchan or Dilip Kumar.

Don’t miss: A dawn trip to the 17th-century Red Fort and Jama Masjid mosque; afternoon shopping in the bead shops of Kinari Bazaar; and a sunset stroll to Mongol Emperor Humayun’s ornate mausoleum.

Spend the night: In one of the 500 rooms of the ITC Maurya Sheraton with stunning views over Delhi’s green belt.

Getting there: Jet Airways has flights to Delhi from Dh2,699.

MAHALO WATER, HONOLULU

Where? Waikiki Galleria Tower, Honolulu, Hawaii

What? Pumped from 900 metres below the surface of the Pacific Ocean, this exclusive water arrives from the North Atlantic Ocean. Guaranteed chemical-free, the classy H2O travels via Greenland, where it leaches minerals from the region’s vast glaciers. A big hit with the Japanese, who are famous for their love of luxury food fads, Ma Ha Lo Hawaii Deep Sea water is a snip at $6 (Dh22) for a 330ml bottle.

Don’t miss: An outrigger canoe ride and a visit to Iolani Palace – the US’s only royal residence.

Spend the night: In Hawaii’s first ever hotel, the sumptuous Moana Surfrider.

Getting there: United Airlines has flights via Washington Dulles from Dh6,795.

LUDOVIC XIII PIZZA, AGROPOLI

Where? Lady Mary Pizzeria, Agropoli, Italy

What? The latest luxury creation from the country that gave us the Neapolitan is the thick-crusted and delicious Ludovic XIII pizza. Served in a rustic trattoria in the

scenic country hamlet of Agropoli, the delightfully decadent dish is topped with lashings of lobster and a cornucopia of beluga caviar. Expect to pay around €8,000 for this pricey pizza.

Don’t miss: A trip to the sixthcentury castle, which stands above the town, followed by a lazy afternoon on the famed beaches of Trentova Bay.

Spend the night: In the delightfully renovated 17th-century hunting lodge, which is now the seaside hotel Palazzo Belmonte.

Getting there: Lufthansa has flights to Naples via Munich from Dh3,009.

MATSUTAKE. KYOTO

Where? Kichisen, Kyoto, Japan

What? Deep-pocketed purists only buy the Japanese version of these mushrooms, found beneath red pines near Kyoto from September to mid-November. With an annual harvest of less than 1,000 tonnes, expect to pay up to $2,000 per kilogram.

Try some at Kichisen, which serves Kyoto’s best kaiseki (multi-course dinner), where the fungi’s fans flock to sample Dobin Mushi, a sapid platter of Matsutake steamed with chicken, fish or shrimp.

Don’t miss: A visit to the Unesco World Heritage Site-classed historic monuments of Ancient Kyoto, followed by a trip to Iwatayama Monkey Park.

Spend the night: At The Hyatt Regency, a chic five-star hotel at the heart of one of the city’s oldest districts.

Getting there: Emirates has direct flights to Osaka from Dh5,185.

STRAWBERRIES ARNAUD, NEW ORLEANS

Where? Arnaud’s restaurant, New Orleans, USA

What? If you’re seeking a chic pud to end your exclusive meal, try the world’s most expensive dessert. The strawberries in chef Arnaud’s high-priced dish are only part of its appeal, however. The real reason for the $1.4 million price tag on this top-notch fruit salad is the 4.7-carat pink diamond ring that you’ll find glittering on top.

Don’t miss: A wander around alleys and narrow streets of The French Quarter, followed by an evening of world-class jazz at M Bistro.

Spend the night: At the Ritz-Carlton, which oozes southern-style hospitality.

Getting there: United Airlines flies to New Orleans via Chicago from Dh4,946.

KOPI LUWAK COFFEE, INDONESIA

Where? Animal Coffee, Indonesia

What? Produced mainly on the islands of Sumatra, Java, Bali and Sulawesi in the Indonesian archipelago, this elite coffee’s unique quality comes from the cute, cat-sized Luwak Asian palm civet that helps produce it. The civet picks only the best coffee cherries to eat, therefore the undigested coffee beans in its dung are guaranteed to be of the highest quality. Once roasted, they produce a full-bodied aromatic brew. You can buy 1kg of this odd coffee with it’s distinctive aftertaste for around $500 (Dh1,800). The look on your friends’ faces when you serve it, however, is priceless.

Don’t miss: Bartering for goods in Jakarta’s Pasar Baru; browsing archaeological artefacts at the National Museum of Indonesia; followed by a stroll around the delightful Sunda Kelapa Old Harbour.

Spend the night: At the Jakarta Mandarin Oriental, a stylish hotel with stunning city views.

Getting there: Emirates flies direct to Jakarta from Dh2,365.