The $93,750 Spud Uncover Fabergé’s Unexpected Masterpiece When you think of the name Fabergé, you probably imagine opulent, jewel-encrusted eggs that epitomize luxury and elegance. But did you know the famous Russian jeweler Peter Carl Fabergé, the mastermind behind the glittering eggs, also created a humble potato? And not just any potato, but one that fetched an astounding $93,750 at a Christie’s auction in 2016.
A Full-Circle Moment
Fast food is many things to many people — a budget meal, a quick family dinner, a midday snack. But can fast food unite the nation around nostalgia over shared childhood memories? An eatery called Chain in Los Angeles is betting it can by hosting a series of pop-up festivals offering upscale remakes of the fast food industry’s biggest hits. After a sold-out debut in Los Angeles last year, ChainFEST recently held its first East Coast event in New York City and a second Los Angeles event last month. The events have been drawing as many as 10,000 guests at a time. The vibe is vintage McDonald’s, intended to bring fans together around memories of favorite chains. “You’re creating this new memory based on an old memory,” Tim Hollingsworth, a Michelin- starred chef and one of ChainFEST’s founders, said at a news conference, as reported by Forbes. “It’s like that full-circle moment.” B.J. Novak, an actor and writer who starred as Ryan Howard in the sitcom “The Office,” is a co-founder. Hollingsworth isn’t serving the burgers and fries of the 1980s. He developed gourmet versions of fast-food favorites. Domino’s offerings include a new Bougie Pizza. Panda Express features a Blazing Bourbon Chicken. Cracker Barrel dishes Country Fried Steak topped with Dijon cheddar gravy, and White Castle embellishes its 1921 Slider with a “top-secret sauce.” Red Lobster’s Cheddar Bay Biscuit is topped with lobster poached in butter. And a new gourmet burger from Red Robin offers five spicy sauces. Fast-Food Nostalgia Brings Foodies Together
FABERGÉ’S GLORIOUS SPUD In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Peter Carl Fabergé was the go-to jeweler for Russian royalty. His intricate and lavish creations, particularly the famous Fabergé eggs, were commissioned by
Czars Alexander III and Nicholas II as Easter gifts for their wives and mothers. Each egg was a masterpiece, often containing hidden surprises like miniature portraits, mechanical wonders, expensive jewels, or even tiny replicas of royal palaces. But amidst these exquisite creations, Fabergé had a sense of humor and a knack for the unexpected. Enter the Fabergé potato — a far cry from the shimmering eggs but equally fascinating in its own right. This potato, crafted from pink agate, was a whimsical departure from his usual opulent fare. THE HUMBLE POTATO’S JOURNEY Fast-forward to 2016, and this extraordinary potato was again in the spotlight. When Christie’s auction house announced the sale of a Fabergé potato, the world did a collective double-take. After all, who would have thought a potato — albeit one crafted by a master jeweler — would garner such attention and a hefty price tag to match? The bidding war was intense, with collectors and Fabergé enthusiasts eager to own this unique piece of history. When the gavel finally came down, the potato had sold for a staggering $93,750. Not bad for a root vegetable! WHY A POTATO? You might wonder why Fabergé, a jeweler known for his elaborate and luxurious designs, chose to make a potato. Perhaps it was his way of showing artistry could be found in the simplest of things. Or maybe it was a playful nod to the significance of potatoes in Russian culture — a staple food that sustained many through tough times. Whatever the reason, Fabergé’s potato reminds us that even the most mundane objects can be transformed into something extraordinary with a bit of creativity and a touch of humor.
The ambiance is unique, too, featuring pop-up replicas of many of the restaurants’ vintage interior designs. The Chuck E. Cheese arcade pop-up includes an appearance by Charles Entertainment Cheese himself.
You won’t find any value meals here. Tickets start at $99.99. All- inclusive VIP tickets with bites of everything and an open bar start at $399.99. And reserved seats at the Chef’s Tasting VIP Table, with access to a chain food buffet, start at a mere $1,299.99.
A recent addition from a new sponsor in LA: Free samples at Pepto Bismol’s “fast-relief station.”
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