There are beef lovers who can tell porterhouse from filet mignon, who are regulars at their local steakhouse, and who turn up their noses at any cut of meat cooked past medium rare. Then there are beef lovers who are willing to shell out close to $3000 for a bento box of beef shaped like the animal from which it came. If you know someone who's passionate about their steak, this cow-shaped package spotted by Eater is the gift for them.
The box comes from a new Japanese lunch delivery service called Gochikuru. Other offerings on their menu include bento box staples like fish, egg, fruit, and vegetables. But in their Tottori Wagyu box, high-end beef is featured front and center.
Wagyu beef comes specially-bred cows native to Japan. The meat is world-famous for its melt-in-your-mouth fat marbling and unique, fruity aroma. It’s also famous for being one of the most expensive foods on Earth.
This particular selection of Wagyu will set buyers back about $2800 with tax. For that price they get roughly 10 pounds of cooked beef from Japan’s Tottori Prefecture, Kinu Musume rice, Yakiniku sauce, lime halves, a wasabi root, and the 2-foot-wide bovine box it all comes in. The 10 cuts of beef, which include tongue, brisket, and prime rib, are arranged according to their location on the cow.
Gochikuru only delivers the item to customers in the Tokyo area, so if you’re looking to give it as a gift stateside, traveling to pick it up will cost more than a few thousand bucks. Fortunately, there are plenty of other options out there if you're shopping for a foodie friend.