Opulent indulgence

Be it any occasion — a festival, birthday, when someone gets a job , when you graduate or simply if you have to gift anything to a friend, one cannot miss having something sinful and sweet. One of the best parts of dining in a restaurant is the variety of options one gets in the dessert menu to choose from. In addition to a long array of Indian sweets like Carrot Halwa and Gulab Jamun, Shahi Tukda and Rasmalai, desserts like pudding, sundae, doughnuts and truffles are also some of the favourites. However, it would be surprising to know that some of the desserts in the world can cost an arm and a leg, and people shell out large amounts of money for them.

Strawberries Arnaud
One would be astounded to know that a plate of strawberries served at Arnaud’s Restaurant in New Orleans costs around Rs 71 crore. For the information of those who are stunned, there are certain additional ingredients that account for the heavy price.

Strawberries Arnaud

These include 24-carat gold flake toppings, whipped cream, vanilla ice cream, and a variety of expensive champagnes and liquors that provide a zing to the dish. In addition to this, an exquisite box that hosts a 10.06-carat royal blue diamond engagement ring created by MS Rau Antiques is placed at the base of the dining plate.
Price Rs 71 cr

Frozen Haute Chocolate Ice Cream Sundae
The sundae, which finds its place in the menu of restaurant Serendipity 3, has pushed back the Golden Opulence Sundae to bag the prime spot in the Guinness Book of World Records. The dessert contains 5 grams of 23-carat edible gold and its topping is the exclusive Rs 18,000 La Madeline au Truffle.

Frozen Haute Chocolate Ice Cream Sundae

One gets a golden spoon and an 18-carat gold bracelet with 1 carat of white diamonds, and the ice cream is provided in a goblet with a gold crown. The restaurant sources the truffle from France and cocoa from across the world. The gold is imported from Switzerland and the eatery needs some time to put together all these ingredients so that they provide an amazing dining experience.
Price Rs 24 Lakh

Diamond Fruitcake
One would probably spend a few bucks every Christmas to buy and taste a fruitcake. However, the Takashimaya Department Store in Tokyo took grandeur to a whole new level by ordering a special cake costing Rs 12 crore with 223 diamonds studded on it making it to weigh 170 carats.

Diamond Fruitcake

As the cake was meant for promotional purposes only, and not for consumption, one need not fear of biting into a diamond in the cake. The makers took six months to design the cake and one whole month to make it.
Price Rs 12 cr

The Absurdity Sundae
Ever imagined having a sundae atop Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania? The promoters of the Absurdity Sundae can make your dream come true. If one decides to go that extra mile to spend any amount to have a dessert, the promoters will fly you to Tanzania in first class style and provide you five-star accommodation.

The Absurdity Sundae

At the mountain, the chef will create the ice cream utilising glacial ice. If you have an extra Rs 18 lakh, you can take along a friend with you. Made by the Three Twins Ice Cream founder, this is also the most expensive ice cream in the world.
Price Rs 43 Lakh

The Lindeth Howe Country House Hotel Chocolate Pudding
Brainchild of Chef Marc Guibert at the Lindeth Howe Country House Hotel in England that desired to create a world record for the costliest chocolate pudding, this dessert includes a replica of a Faberge egg and a few embellishments added to the standard recipe. The ingredients of the pudding that make it one of the costliest desserts of the world are edible gold, caviar, and delicious chocolates as well as a 2-carat diamond that is not edible.

The Lindeth Howe Country House Hotel Chocolate Pudding

The edible parts consist of a covering of gold leaf, four flavours of Belgian chocolates, and gold and champagne caviar. One needs to  wash down the pudding with a bottle of Chateau d’Yquem that costs Rs 51,000. The dessert is made on order given prior to three weeks and with a down payment.
Price Rs 24 Lakh