Babette's Feast at Per Se
Wow. Never have I been so excited to see an email, then crushed because never in my life would I spend that amount of money. I'm sure many have heard of this, but on Friday Per Se is screening one of my favorite film's Babette's Feast, then recreates the meal from the film, with wine pairings. The cost? $3500.00 for one, $6k for two. You can check out alloytheater.org for the deets, I couldn't cut and paste to show you the menu.
Sigh, any really generous person out there want to sponsor me? I speak Swedish, and could help translate! :) (Ok, ok, I know it's in Danish, but the languages are really really similar)
Apologies if this isn't the place to post this kind of info, but I just had to share with those that would totally get it...
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8 Comments:
Holy shit!!!! $3500???? I heard about this, knew it would be pricey, but damn! Didn't realize it would be this expensive. I own the movie. It's insane. I guess $3500 for the reenactment at PerSe is cheaper than a time machine...
simon at 11:37AM on 01/08/09
ditto @simon!
wookie at 4:28PM on 01/08/09
Expensive, yes, but it is a benefit for a new non-profit theater :) I very luckily get to "work" at the event tomorrow night, will post a review...
corker at 5:50PM on 01/08/09
oh Corker, please do! I so wish I could be there, do they need a coat check girl or ticket taker?
CityMinx at 11:08PM on 01/08/09
Please excuse the question...but can one really enjoy a meal that expensive, or do you find yourself making excuses for it..you know: 'a fool and his money...' Per Se is known for these blockbuster dinners and though I don't deny the talents at work here, I just can't see spending this kind of money. Convince me...
gutreactions at 11:16AM on 01/09/09
Okay, here's my musings on $200 tasting dinners and the like. These are not places where you go because you're feeling peckish. These, like vacations, Broadway tickets, sports events, and concerts, are experiences. You go to experience this one thing, at this one time; it's entertainment.
Places like Per Se and Masa are expensive experiences, it's true. But what about people paying $500 and up for front row concert seats? Corker mentioned it's a fund raiser. There are plenty of medical and political fundraisers out there for $5000 a seat. And the food, trust me, is much much worse.
If I had the financial wherewithal, or a sponsor (ahem, taking inquiries) I would definitely attend more tasting dinners and the like. Because for me, that is something I would much rather experience.
CityMinx at 12:06PM on 01/09/09
This really is not about spending the money on the food, "per se" sorry :) everyone attending this event is doing so as a patron of the arts and supporting a fledgling theater company through these difficult financial times. As cityminx said there are many events out there with tables priced at $150,000 + (and I can assure you Thomas Kellar doesn't oversee the manu) the ticket price is not for the food and wine, it's to maintain our city as the cultural center of the universe! Thank God for generous New Yorkers!
corker at 2:22PM on 01/09/09
@gutreactions - the $3500 is not the price of ingredients + manpower + rent. It's most likely a donation to the theatre who will receive the proceeds. I'll bet Keller might even donate ingredients and/or manpower and/or rent as well - he'd get a hefty tax write-off.
I think diners will get as much satisfaction from the donation as they will from the meal.
I've often been tempted to reproduce the meal from Big Night. Hmmmmm. There's a winter project.
therealchiffonade at 2:48PM on 01/17/09