Hosting Thanksgiving dinner for 10 this year will set you back about $49.20, a tab that's 13% more expensive than that of 2010. But when it comes to truly expensive holiday meals, that one pales in comparison to the one dreamed up by BankRate.com. Travers Korch looks for the most expensive ingredients possible—and they really add up:
- You can't even think about the turkey without considering what to eat it with. One option: Tuttle Silver's Continental dinner set, a 66-utensil collection that costs $25,200.
- Look to Morocco for more dinnerware inspiration. The five-piece set used at the king's daughter's wedding reception, designed by Haviland & Parlon, can be yours for $5,509 per person.
- As for what goes on the plate, a plain old turkey is just so ... boring. Order a Grand Turducken from San Francisco's 4505 Meats, and serve up to 30 guests 19 pounds of chicken, turkey, and duck for about $295.
- Pumpkin pie gets grander when it's topped with gold leaf; one chef spent $13,000 on the gold adorning his pie.
- It's not a holiday without a toast. Pinot noir goes great with turkey—keep things oh-so-luxe with the 2008 Domaine de la Romanee-Conti Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits, which sells for about $10,777 per bottle.
Click to read about more pricey elements, from the carving knife to
the after-dinner coffee. (More
Thanksgiving stories.)