All that glitters is gold when we talk food and the gold leaf craze

(Image: Nordic Kandie)

CAPE TOWN- Edible gold has become something close to a staple in Michelin star restaurant kitchens but it isn’t the new kid on the block in the food industry as it was already a big deal in the late medieval era. A number of recipe books from Medieval times include recipes that required a pure form of the non-toxic metal to be added as final touches to meals that were served to royalty, or that the metal be cooked with the food to either be removed at a later stage or to be consumed.

ABC News writes: “One could be forgiven for thinking that gold is the latest must-have ingredient in the world of haute cuisine. In fact, the history of ornamenting food with gold goes back at least to Medieval Europe”

While the world goes gaga over gold, it is wise to note that it adds no flavour to the dish, it is the bling that does the job.

According to Vogue , Egyptians believed gold was sacred food. Going for $145 (R1879.33) per gram, this edible bling is far more costly than gold jewelry in some cases.  The pure form of the metal that is used in food comes in various forms such as the gold leaf, which the popular form with restaurateurs. It is said to be used because it ‘speaks for itself’.

In an intervew with Maclean’s ; Dr Heather Evans is reported to have said ‘Right now in times of austerity, we’re a little hungry for that sense of luxury that many of us feel that we have lost. ‘

Whether this is true or not, cooks around the world are competing to make the worlds most expensive dessert using gold to adorn their sweet creations. It comes as no surprise that even street food vendors have now been bitten by the golden food bug, but the newsworthy tidbit that has everyone’s togues wagging is the Gold burger  from a Chelsea restaurant that costs a whopping £1,100 (R18488.03).

(Image: Zafferano catering)

Would you pay this much for a burger simply because it has gold leaf in it? We are sitting this one out. 

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