Diamonds Are a Cooks Best Friend
Japanese artisans are taking food to a whole new level…it’s like watching an episode of Takeshi’s castle turned MXC!
Round 1
December: A department store in Tokyo put a $1.7m fruitcake on sale. Covered in 223 diamonds, the cake took six months of planning and one month create. I’m left wondering where a pastry chef would apply for a loan to purchase the gems, and does one need special insurance in case the buyer accidentally ingests the decorative sparklies? No mention if the cake actually sold.
Round 2
January: Not to be outdone, a Tokyo jeweler makes his power move by creating a chocolate bar that would put Willy Wonka to shame. Said to be worth 500 million Yen, the bar is artfully decorated with 2006 diamonds and carved into the shape of Africa; one of the world’s largest producers of diamonds. Clearly this guy wasn’t letting a mere pastry chef take away his food lover title.
And the winner is….
Secret underdog contender, Koo-ki Sushi!
I had to give it up to these California based Japanese ladies who’ve been making amazingly realistic chocolate and cookie based sushi for years. I mean come on…apricot gummi salmon roe? Green tea wasabi on rice cookies? A special fish bottle of shoyu chocolate sauce?
Every foodie girl knows that kind of sushi beats out diamonds any day.
March 9th, 2006 at 3:15 pm
Wow. I’m blown away by the Koo-ki Sushi. As a chocoholic (any sweets, really) Japanophile, it’s cool to see something so “new”! But, your entry begs the question, how do they taste? Worth a trip to the South Bay?
Nice blog, from a fellow Berkeleyan.
March 10th, 2006 at 4:58 am
Hi kitsune!
I’ve never actually had the chance to try Kooki Sushi, and I probably wouldn’t spend $$$ ordering any. I’ve read that it’s not the best tasting…which is too bad because it’s looks so freakin cool. Of course I doubt the other items in my post are really that tasty either. It’s seems to be about the WOW factor.
PS: I heartily recommend the Vosges candy bars, especially the Naga coconut curry flavor. It’s divine. You can get them at Bittersweet in Piedmont, or Whole Foods. They also have a ginger wasabi truffle, and I know someone out there does a green tea truffle.
March 10th, 2006 at 1:49 pm
Aww. Well, at the price I guess it is good that the Kookis aren’t amazing. I already spend a fortune on high-end choco.
I have been meaning to try the Vosges, but there is so much out there these days! I also recommend the 4th Street Pasta Shop and Elephant Pharmacy as good places for chocolate choices (have you tried Coco-luxe? It’s the company of a new Bay Area chocolatier. Pricey, but yummm. And she’s really cool.)
Oooh. Bittersweet…. The only thing that saves me there is that there are too many choices! I assume you’ve had their “Spicy” chocolate drink (as you seem to appreciate a little heat in your choco)? I think it is better than caffeine for a pick-me-up :).
March 17th, 2006 at 2:28 am
Hmmm…methinks I need to do a post on chocolate havens like Bittersweet!