May 28, 2008 5:24PM

The $175 Burger

By Cheryl Casone

Today we had a local New York restaurant owner who is serving a burger that sells for $175. He sells a few a week, and usually it is to Wall Street types. It has white truffles, black truffles, and is made from Kobe beef.

The idea for having him on, was on the heels of high commodity prices and inflation worries. Doesn’t that mean people cut back? Why would someone offer such an expensive item during an economic downturn?

We discovered after talking to Kevin O’Connell, that there are some items that are recession proof. Not only is he selling to finance guys and maybe some gals (I say guys because that thing is 2,000 calories), but also foreign tourists that have seen overseas news coverage of the burger, and decided to stop by on their New York trip.

If you are in New York, feel free to hit up the Wall Street Burger Shoppe on Water and Broad Street. The burger is Kobe beef, foie gras, exotic mushrooms, shaved black truffles, and golden truffle mayonnaise. The burger joins the New York luxury food group that includes a $25,000 sundae and a $1,000 pizza.

CC