13 culinary experiences to be had before the world ends

Have you ever thought about the things you’d like to do before the world ends? 

Today, as we celebrate World Asteroid Day, in recognition of those tiny (yet not so tiny) “planets” that are very important to science and humanity, we got to thinking.

What would you do if an asteroid were expected to collide with the Earth and you still had some things left on your bucket list?

Not to tempt fate or anything, but we decided to put together a wish list of all of the most incredible culinary experiences to be had before we leave this planet.

I don’t know if any of you are superstitious, but don’t be alarmed by the fact that there are 13 on the list. In this situation, bad luck is certainly a negligible detail.

1. A NICE NEGRONI, A COCKTAIL FOR THE ELITE

What better way to await the end of the world than enjoying a nice Negroni?

Of course, not just any Negroni, but a Salvatore’s Legacy, the most expensive cocktail in the world with a listed price of €6,200 (£5,500).

You’re probably wondering why it costs so much. Well, consider that it’s prepared exclusively at Salvatore Calabrese’s bar at the Playboy Club in London and that to make it, he (the most famous bartender in the world) uses a combination of ingredients with a combined age of 730 years!

In fact, Salvatore’s Legacy contains a 1778 cognac (Clos de Griffier Vieux), a 1770 Kummel (a liqueur flavored with cumin and fennel), and an 1860 Dubb Orange Curacao, all enhanced with two drops of early 20th century Angostura bitters. 

2. APERITIF SERVED WITH FUGU-BASED APPETIZERS, THE EXQUISITELY DEADLY FISH

If it’s cooked incorrectly, it would shorten your wait for the meteorite or asteroid, or whatever you want to call it… We’re talking about Fugu, a very specific species of blow fish.

Fugu is not naturally poisonous. It’s (deadly) toxin comes from the ingestion of crustaceans which, in turn, contain this poison. 

It’s only thanks to the “migaki” technique, which consists in cleaning the poison out of the fish, that local chefs are able to prevent the death of diners. 

But what happens if something goes wrong? 

If a person eats it there’s nothing to be done: one of the first things to be dramatically affected is his or her breathing. So why risk such an atrocious death just for the pleasure of tasting this fish? Well, it’s (literally) a delicacy that’s to die for; something for refined palates, capable of eliciting true emotions…

3. DINING WITH CAPTAIN NEMO

And what if, with the end of the world in sight, we were to take a seat under the sea amidst coral reefs and colorful fish? 

Various restaurants offer this kind of thrilling experience. We chose Ithaa Undersea Restaurant, Atollo Alif Dhaa – Maldives. Ithaa means mother of pearl. The restaurant is part of the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island Hotel and is located 5 meters below sea level on Conrad’s Rangali Island. 

From a stairway that begins on an extremely fine-sand beach, one enters a unique restaurant, immersed in the archipelago’s blue water. The ceiling is made entirely from sheets of transparent glass which allow a 270° view of the sea and its colorful inhabitants.

4. LUNCH? I’LL 3D-PRINT IT

Technology, innovation, and taste fused together in a futuristic experience to the nth degree. We’re talking about Food Ink, a gourmet restaurant like none other, in which all of the food, utensils, and furniture are entirely produced through 3D printing in an immersive and futuristic space.

“Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic,” wrote Arthur C. Clarke. The people of Food Ink believe that technology should be used for a purpose, and they’re using it to add magic to the magic. In short, they’re using the most innovative technology, like 3D printing and virtual reality, to create the most exquisite, interactive, and edible experience. They’re energy is focused on making every moment enchanting.

5.THE SKY’S NOT THE LIMIT, NOT EVEN AT THE TABLE

An experience like none other in the world, now available in Italy, which will give you a completely new perspective on restaurants. ‘Dinner in the Sky’, a franchised restaurant, is already available in 70 countries around the world, combining an unforgettable culinary experience with the most spectacular views in Italy.

Dinner is served on a platform suspended above the ground by a 50-meter crane. This is where the chef prepares, right in front of you, a gourmet menu, accompanied by bottles of wine and live music, while you relax and enjoy the fantastic view.

Selected by Forbes as the most unusual restaurant in the world, ‘Dinner in the Sky’ is one of the most unique culinary experiences out there, especially if you’re looking to plan a romantic evening or if you want to amaze your friends and family.

6. SNOW CAVE, THE ICE RESTAURANT

The collaboration between chef Luca Galli, from Livigno, and artist Vania Cusini has created a unique restaurant: the Snow Cave, entirely sculpted in ice. 

This restaurant can accommodate a maximum of 12 people, including children, in a very special location. Only the tables are wood. Everything else is, incredibly, ice.

The chef has created a menu of warm dishes designed specifically to make the dinner enjoyable. The style of the chef, who wants to offer gourmet yet “relatable” cuisine, as he calls it, is simple but effective, guiding you personally through the authentic flavors of Valtellina with skill and attention to detail.

7. DINNER ON THE LANZAROTE VOLCANO

Are you a hot-blooded type? Bid farewell to our planet from the mouth of a volcano, comfortably seated at one of the El Diablo restaurant’s tables with a view.

Below the restaurant is a 400° pool of lava and you’ll soon understand how this kitchen saves on gas: the food is cooked directly using the heat from the volcano. 

Obviously the specialties are roasted dishes including steaks, grilled chicken, sausages, and potatoes as well as fresh fish and shellfish from the Canary Islands.

8. A GLASS OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE WINE IN THE WORLD ERASES ALL FEAR

You can’t leave this planet without having at least wet your lips with the most expensive wine in the world.

We’re talking about Romanée Conti, the red wine from Burgandy, made with Pinot Noir grapes, for which connoisseurs are willing to do crazy things, like spend $558,000 for a single bottle from 1945. 

Not that any other vintage is particularly affordable, with an average starting price of around €16,270 per bottle.

A legendary wine with an ancient history that dates back as far as the Romans, hence the name Romanée. 

You know what’s really interesting? It’s a  biodynamic wine!

9. TOASTING TO A LONG LIFE, SO TO SPEAK, WITH THE OLDEST BEER IN THE WORLD

Time is running out and the asteroid is expected to collide with the Earth within 48 hours. What do you say to going for broke with the Holy Grail of beers?

Go to Bavaria and stop by the Weihenstephan Abbey which guards the recipe for the oldest dark beer in the world, dating back to the year 768, produced to this day according to the highest standards.

Pour a nice tankard with lots of foam and make your final toast in the company of German monks. Who knows? A bit of protection from above might come in handy!

10. COUCH POTATOES, THIS ONE IS FOR YOU!

You might need to leave your beloved couch but, we promise: it’s worth the hassle.

What we’re about to propose is a tasting of the most exclusive potato in the world: the Bonnotte di Noirmoutier. 

This particular variety of potato is grown on a small and remote French island. The sea breeze and particular sandy terrain give this potato a unique flavor and consistency, so much so that it can cost up to €500 or more per Kg!

If this isn’t a potato to die for, then what is?

11. SOMETHING TO TREAT YOURSELF WITH WHEN THE WORLD IS COMING TO AND END: THE HONEY OF ELVES

In Turkey you’ll find a honey produced 2 km inside the bowels of the Earth, also known as “the honey of the elves”. 

It was discovered by chance by beekeeper Gunay Gunduz who became aware of a strange and frenetic traffic of bees in a cave in the Saricayr Valley.

Curious, he followed them and, inside, discovered a true paradise of sweetness: approximately 18 kg of honey covering the rocky walls. Upon analyzing it, it was discovered to be a very high quality 7-year old honey that could even be used for medicinal purposes.

The first kilogram was sold at auction for €45,000!

Today the price has come down a bit and hovers around a very “affordable” €5000 per Kg.

12. SHOUTING A SUPERSTITIOUS “MERDE MERDE MERDE!” WITH THE FINEST COFFEE IN THE WORLD 

Even Baudelaire said it: nothing grows from diamonds, flowers grow from manure… but so does coffee!

And that’s exactly the case for this very fine coffee obtained from, wait for it, the feces of elephants in Thailand, the Black Ivory.

A small cup of this blend can cost up to $80 and that’s why it wins the award for the most expensive coffee in the world.

What does it taste like? Experts say that it recalls cocoa, spices, tobacco, and leather, with an aftertaste of cherry syrup that is delicate and not at all bitter.

Apparently these aromas develop due to the fermentation of the coffee beans in the stomach of the Thai elephants in the rural village of Ban Taklang, in Surin.

Should we believe it? I guess we’ll just have to try it.

13. CLEANSING YOUR SOUL WITH A $9000 CUP OF TEA 

The world is about to end and, no matter what we believe, it’s always worth showing up to the hereafter with a clean conscience.

So let’s relax and prepare a nice cup of tea, to hell with the money.

Have you ever heard of the Chinese variety Da Hong Pao?

It literally means “large red dress” and it is the most exclusive tea in the world, with leaves that come from only six ancient treesthat have survived over the centuries and are cultivated in the eastern province of Fujian, on the Wuyi Mountains. 

Apparently, the gardens of the Ming dynasty were once located on this land, and that’s why many believe that the tea possesses mystical properties which are capable of curing the body and soul.

It’s because of these incredible characteristics that the price is, shall we say, a bit high: €1300 per gram or, if you prefer, $1.2 million per kilogram. That’s 30 times more than gold!

On the other hand, can you really put a price on a clean soul?

So, which of these experiences would you start with?

Allora, voi da quale di queste esperienze partireste?