Just when you thought the world of hot dogs couldn’t get any crazier, New York City rooftop lounge 230 FIFTH ups the stakes, creating a hot dog priced at $2,300.
230 FIFTH has had a short but meaningful history with hot dogs. Last Fourth of July, they invited competitive eater Takeru Kobayashi to challenge Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest participants on a live broadcast. They then installed a hot dog stand on the rooftop lounge, which has been popular with customers, and on July 30 the restaurant will release its world-record $2,300 footlong hot dog.
It seems unruly to charge more than two grand for a meager 12-inch hot dog, but note the elaborate additions and you’ll understand.
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To start, the hot dog meat is made of marbled Wagyu beef, dry-aged for 60 days and enriched with black truffle. A dry-aged seven rib roast of this type goes for $1,225 a pop. The hot dog meat sits between a toasted brioche bun, brushed with white truffle butter and slathered with organic, saffron-infused W Ketchup that goes for $9 a bottle and $35 mustard imported from France.
The hot dog is then topped with caramelized onions that have been cooked in Dom Perignon Champagne and $389 100-year-old balsamic vinegar. The next topping, the homemade sauerkraut, is braised with champagne worth several hundred dollars and mixed with the finest caviar legally available in the U.S. This elaborate hot dog is finally topped off with relish made from $10 pickles and a shimmering gold leaf.
Luckily, 230 FIFTH is not being as gluttonous as eaters in charging so much money for a hot dog; proceeds from the elaborate treats go to City Harvest, a charity organization dedicated to feeding underprivileged men, women, and children in the New York City area. To put this charity event into perspective, just one hot dog sold will help feed a whopping 9,200 people.
So who will be willing for fork up the cash for this experience? According to a 230 FIFTH public relations representative, they anticipate two likely audiences: those who want to break the world record and have a hot dog experience to remember, and those who are avid supporters of City Harvest.
230 FIFTH is confident they’ll be able to sell at least five, maybe 10 of these exclusive hot dogs, and if the event is received well, we can expect to see some variation of the event next year, perhaps with a slightly higher price point. But really, how much more expensive can a hot dog get?
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