The world of luxurious foods is an exciting and tempting thing for any culinary fan to explore. You may have heard of these luxurious foods, but you may not know what makes them so special. If you have ever been curious to try caviar, truffles, wagyu beef and other famous fancy foods, discover what makes them so special.
1. Caviar
Caviar is a treat for the senses. Much like with wine tasting, there are many subtle flavors and notes to pick up. Tasting caviar is more of an experience you partake in than just a meal you eat. A big part of this event requires you to focus on taste. The texture, flavor and finish are critical factors that make caviar tasting a unique culinary delight.
Caviar is unlike any other luxurious food to try out. From the buttery texture of the pearls and the underlying flavors, this is an experience everyone should aspire to try. Should you want to try caviar, you will need to know how to make the most out of your tasting journey.
2. Truffles
Truffles are a species of mushroom grown in the wild and hunted and dug up by domestic pigs. Truffles are renowned for their flavor and aroma and greatly enhance the taste of meals. Truffles are rare, hard to source and quick to lose their potency once harvested, earning them a luxury price. These marvelous mushrooms are exquisite additions to meals like pasta and risotto.
You may have enjoyed a meal made with truffle oil, which is made by infusing oil with the flavor compounds found in truffles. Truffle oil, despite the name, is not made out of actual truffles. If you enjoy the oil, you will love truffles, which provide an even more vivid and rich flavor. You can even enjoy the flavor in truffle caviar, a plant-based alternative to the other luxury food option.
3. Saffron
Saffron is a spice made from crocus sativus flowers, a member of the iris family. Saffron threads have been cultivated by humans for thousands of years and used in medicines, dyes, perfumes and, of course, food. Everyone can enjoy this luxurious spice as it's vegan, gluten-free and paleo in its pure form.
As a spice, saffron adds an earthy taste that some may also describe as sweet or pungent. There is no other spice that can match the taste of saffron, making it a unique culinary experience to treat yourself to. Saffron is to be used sparingly and works best in chicken dishes, paella, risotto and salads.
If you purchase saffron threads, you can test if they're real and high-quality in a couple of ways. First, examine the thread — real saffron has a trumpet shape toward the end. You can also soak a few threads in hot water. If the threads bleed their color quickly into the water and turn it vivid yellow, the saffron isn't high-quality.
4. Oysters
The salty taste and unique texture of oysters make them an acquired taste. Lovers of fish and seafood will find much to enjoy in oysters. Oysters that are fresh from the ocean are the best to eat. This luxurious treat is often associated with romance and can add to the mood as much as it adds to a meal.
Oysters are delicious by themselves or as part of a dish. This dynamic delicacy can be grilled, fried, stewed and cooked with other seafood for a melody of maritime tastes. Raw oysters are most associated with luxury and can be eaten straight from the shell. Pair with lemon juice or top with caviar to combine delicacies.
5. Wagyu Beef
Wagyu beef is famous for its extensive fat marbling, which makes it rich and full of umami. Wagyu means “Japanese cow.” Japanese Brown, Black, Polled and Shorthorn cows are genetically predisposed to store fat differently from most other cows. This genetics makes this type of beef so remarkably tender and gives it a soft texture that melts in your mouth like butter.
These distinguishing factors and exclusivity make Wagyu beef a sought-after meal. Cook wagyu beef to medium doneness, around 145 degrees Fahrenheit, and pair it with a tannic red wine for a decadent meal experience.
6. Gold Leaf
Edible gold leaf is an excellent way to give your food a sense of luxury. Most expensive foods are associated with extravagance and high society, and gold leaf is the best way to indulge your most fanciful wishes. Edible gold leaf has no taste but is regarded as one of the fanciest garnishes in the culinary world.
Gold leaf is most commonly added to desserts, but it can still be used on sushi, risotto and other savory dishes. It is very delicate and challenging to work with while keeping it intact, which makes dishes that are decorated with it even more impressive.
7. Foie Gras
Foie gras, French for "fat liver," is goose or duck liver that is enlarged via a special feeding technique. This delectable food is available whole, as a pâté or as a mousse. It is often served in terrines — loaves that include meat — or as the main ingredient of a dish.
Foie gras is very fatty and rich and has a smooth texture and buttery flavor. It can be spread on a cracker as an appetizer or used in various meals, like cooked over a steak.
8. Fugu
Fugu, or pufferfish, is a meal for daredevils and thrill seekers. What makes fugu such an exciting and luxurious meal is that it might make you fatally ill. This, however, almost never happens because the chefs who prepare fugu sushi undergo training to ensure it is always prepared properly. This rare and expensive food is considered more delicious than dangerous by those who partake in it.
Tetrodotoxin is a highly toxic poison found within the organs of fugu fish. The toxin in the fish's ovaries, intestines and liver must be carefully separated from the meat during preparation. While most well-known for being served as sashimi, fugu can also be used in stews and hot pots.
9. Black Densuke Watermelons
Black Densuke watermelons are a rare type of melon characterized by their black rinds and nearly seedless flesh. This is one of the rarest and most expensive fruits in the world and is grown exclusively on the Japanese island of Hokkaido. They are challenging to cultivate and require constant care, so annual yields are small. If you are lucky enough to taste these exceedingly valuable fruits, you may count yourself as one of a very small and fortunate minority.
Imperia Caviar Is Your Gateway to Luxury Food
Imperia Caviar prides itself on providing excellent quality caviar and wagyu beef. But we are more than providers of these foods — we are guides to the mesmerizing world of aspirational food items. Our affordable caviar and wagyu beef gift sets provide high-quality culinary experiences for your friends, family and colleagues.
Explore our options on our online store and order the fancy foods you crave today. If you want to experience caviar with uncompromising value, consider joining the caviar club.
