When you think of an expensive meal, you probably envision yourself at one of the
most expensive restaurants in the world, not eating take-out. That isn't to say that there is anything wrong with take-out, just that it is intended to be for convenience and is usually associated with casual affairs. Kayne West has just redefined take-out by ordering what must be one of the
most expensive take-out meals ever ordered (excluding large parties, where "take-out" becomes "catering"). He ordered dinner from a restaurant called British Raj, an Indian restaurant outside Cardiff, Wales, for himself and seven friends. Normally, such a meal would cost $17.50, but West is having it cooked, cooled, packed and shipped -- along with the chef who prepared the food -- to New York for a Wednesday meal.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Kathy Mar 9th 2007 7:59AM
A recent newspaper headline said the poorest Americans are getting poorer. Nearly 16 million people are living -not just in poverty- but in sever poverty. The highest it’s been in 32 years. I often wonder why, if we are living in the greatest most powerful country in the world, are there still people in the USA who don’t have at the very least, a middle class life style? There is not just a gap between those who “have” and those who “have not“, there is an ocean. Don’t get this wrong, there is nothing wrong with money, but those Americans who have EXTREAM wealth of this magnitude I don’t and hope l never understand.
I am particularly concerned about our obsession with Celebrity Status. Especially it’s affects on the next generation. It’s a serious problem that I hope we can do something about. We are teaching our children (who no longer want to grow up and be a policemen, doctor, teacher, or even The President of the United States) to only desire wealth, power and fame. Not everyone can have that. That montra "you can be anything you want, if you just try hard enough" is not always true.
It’s not good for a generation to grown up and think it’s ok to have a thousand pairs of shoes in your closet while other people are shoeless. Or, to have a $600,000 dollar sixteenth birthday party when that much money could feed a starving nation.
Even on a deeper level, I see it as a possible tragic end to life as we know it. I know that may sound CRAZY but down the road of time it could be the civil war we don’t talk about. The war between the rich and the poor. Could you blame the laborer who has worked hard every day of their life and still can’t afford to buy their child a birthday cake or buy shoes for their kids to start school in?
Ralph Dreifus Mar 9th 2007 9:48AM
The author is totally correct. The gulf between the haves and the have nots is growing. My father warned of this some forty years
It can all be tied back to our legislative and executive branches of government. We have to best government money can buy. We have a corrupt society that is driven by right wing greedy people. My father predicted this country would never be defeated by force of arms from outside of its borders. Instead it would crumble from within. He was and is a multimillionaire in his own right. He also knew his success rested on his employees. He paid them well rather than give his money directly away the Federal government.
The time is fast approaching when AlQueda will not be what group the politicans have to fear, it will be it's citizens it has to fear. When it occurs it will occur quickly.
My opinion is our government is totally out of control and my question is what has to happen ? Do 500,000 people have to mass in Washington DC and burn the capital to the ground. Our government is no longer accountable to it's citizens, it is accountable to the 3% that control 95% of the wealth. The day will come when the guns come out coast to coast border to border
Carmel Mar 9th 2007 10:08AM
Seeing a headline about the most costly take-out is a disgusting comment on the state of our society today. I read the comment of Kathy posted on March 9th and think that her comments are right on the mark. The reason that one should click through to see "who" is spending that amount of money would be to find out the name of the celebrity or person that one should never buy another record of, see another film with, or promote in any way that person's career ever again. We pay more attention to Anna Nicole Smith dying of a probable drug mix overdose than we do to the pressing problems in all areas of our world today. To spend almost $4,000 on a take out for a few friends inspires not admiration from those who spend their time dealing with real issues, but, disgust and frustration that someone would have this kind of money to spend on a take-out and not use it for something of value. If the media would stop promoting and covering such trivial, meaningless nonsense, maybe we could get back to curing or at least attempting to cure the world's problems instead of initiating and teaching our children that this is acceptable behavior.
Sylvia Reid Mar 9th 2007 10:48AM
What a shame the way people waste money in this world when as Kathy has stated the poor are getting
poorer, and the rich are getting richer. So many
people in this life live from week to week and can
hardly find the money to pay their monthly bills,
and then you hear about the stupidity of someone
wasting this type of money for a few friends. What
has gone wrong with our society that we would glamorize this type of behavior. Whomever is wasting
this type of money will have to answer one day to a
higher power, and the first question the higher power
will ask them is how well did you treat your brothers, and sisters here upon the earth. Meaning
everyone, not just a few selected friends. If you
have money to throw away like this try spending some
of it to accomplish some good in this life. We have
millions of homeless shelters which could use a hefty
donation from the likes of you. You could feed many
with what you are feeding only a few..........Sylvia
from Georgia
Renee Mar 9th 2007 11:39AM
While I certainly agree that the amount spent as reported in this article was obscene for a take-out meal, I think some of people's disdain over the issue is misplaced. It's a fact that America is completely star-struck. We spend more time worrying about who Angelina is adopting, how many times Brittney leaves or checks into rehab, and how much any of them is spending on things we simply cannot afford. However, rather than complaining, we need to make sure that we instill in our own children the values that are important. We also need to make sure that they understand that there is nothing totally wrong with occasionally indulging themselves when they have achieved success. Many people are pissed to learn what stars spend on "whims," but the reports of what they do that helps foundations or other charities tends to go underreported. The bottom line is that it's not our place to criticize how they spend the money that they earned, nor is it their duty alone to "save the world." The majority of these people (heirs of fortune aside) had to work at their craft in order to reach the status they now enjoy. No offense, but I doubt that when many of these stars that we complain about were poor (and many of them were), anybody was worried about helping them, or if they had shoes etc. So, since complaining about what they do is not going to change a damn thing, perhaps we need to ensure that we work on what we can change, and that is our own mindset and that of the youth we are responsible for. Money and fame has its place, it's our job to make sure they understand what that is when surrounded by those who seem to have forgotten.
KEVIN Mar 9th 2007 11:39AM
TIME FOR A REVOLUTION
BECKI MC COY Mar 9th 2007 1:26PM
THIS WAS, SIMPLY, TO SHOW THAT HE COULD DO IT...WHETHER HE LIVES IN L.A. OR NEW YORK OR ANY OTHER LARGE CITY IN THIS COUNTRY...THAT MEAL IS READILY AVAILABLE..WE HAVE THE FINIST INDIAN RESTAURANTS IN THE WORLD AND THERE WAS ONLY ONE REASON TO ORDER IT FROM WALES....TO SHOW THAT HE COULD...WHAT A JERK
J.Dillinger Mar 9th 2007 1:42PM
In response to Sylvia for GA. I believe that if you have the money and earned it legally then do what you what with it. I am a self made multi millionaire and if I did it so could many others. I feel for the poor people of the world..and when I say world I mean the third world countries that everyday is a fight to survive. I cannot feel that way about the U.S. of A in this land we have all the chance to be what ever you what to be. There are Self made poor people just like there are self made rich ones. I don't have a bleeding heart for those in America who are self made poor. I spend my money helping other countries build waterways and helping them with their basic survival and I help those who truly cant help them selves...If I spend a 180,000 on a car and 8,000 on suits and Millions on a home, always remember one thing its my money and I spend it as I want. IM a Republican and this is how I feel.
Lisa Mar 9th 2007 1:58PM
I remember all the fuss when kanye west made the comment on Bush not liking "black people" People of Katrina are still suffering Kanye, do you care about them or are you a publicity hog? How many people could you have helped for that amounht of money? Pigs, disgsting pigs. Actually, I want to apologize to the pig, it is better than this kind of people.
james edstrom Mar 9th 2007 3:20PM
The story was false. I did a follow up on http://www.timessquaregossip.com that told you Kanye didn't order that food. Read it!
Jeff Mar 9th 2007 4:34PM
Yes, It is sad that this young newly rich star wasted that money when he could have helped people in need,but he earned it and we're free to do as we please if it's legal. Those spouting revolution aren't aware the those countries that were taken over by the revolutionary leaders made themselves rich and curtailed freedom with minimal reward to the poor, enough for media show and tell. Our numbers of poor also reflect immigrants that arrive daily to improve their plight and are for ahile are way below American standards of living but are usually much better off then they were otherwise. You'd think they'd go to Cuba ,Mexico or Iran which they aren't,they're coming to America. Think before you send e-mails of what you can achieve here before attacking the America you have the freedom to write your response about.
doc silver Mar 9th 2007 4:49PM
kanye west is as stupid as he is wealthy.
c.payne Mar 9th 2007 5:14PM
I agree with J. Dillinger. I grew up poor. Now my husband and I run a small family business. We are not wealthy but we make ends meet. I was taught you have to work hard to achieve your goals. My husband and I know we could sell our business and get better jobs and make more money and then also lose our close family time because of great paying high stress jobs. What I can't get over is everybodys since of entitlement to handouts. Get out and work like everybody else. It is not the governments or anybody elses responsibility to support the people. Everybody is so worried about supporting causes and sending money away to these "people in need" and they are losing site of taking care of their own family and friends that are supposedly close to their heart. If people cared more about taking care of home first our children would understand the difference between being a celebrity and working hard to earn a living because real values would be instilled at home by the parents. However, I fear that people will not take responsibility for themselves and their families and continue to allow society to raise their children so when the children turn out "bad" they can disapprove and blame society and the government instead of taking responsibility for their own actions.
Bubba K. Mar 9th 2007 5:52PM
People, just what is the big deal if some poor boy with a lot of jing gets clipped for a take out meal by a service/customer oriented restaurant? Maybe the kid is ditzy or something and doesn't know he can get decent Indian food even on the West side in New York city.
Why all this hostile talk about revolution and making the jing yourself in America? Be cool. America just pissed away over half a trillion bucks in Iraq and it wasn't even our money, we borrowed most of it from the Chinese. So don't let four thousand for a decent meal get you all stressed.
Most serious politicians probably steal or graft that much in a regular mornings work. Don't begrudge the poor and itinerant loafers their dole, they humans just like all of us.
Chill...Omme mani padme ommm....! Focus on the present moment.
zorgen Mar 9th 2007 5:58PM
The root of all our problems today is due to a continually crumbling morality in the USA and the world. They follow our act. I am a child of the fiftys. I grew up in an era where doors were left unlocked and block parties happened all summer long. Sadly the innocence of those days is lost forever. Here's my take on it. During World War II women began working and they liked it. The men came back from the war and went back to work. The seed had been planted and women no longer wanted to stay at home and raise children. Can you blame them? No way, but this is where the problem of our society began to fester. With mom and dad both working, kids ran free without enough direction. The beginning of the end. To many children have grown up undisiplined, uneducated, taking drugs of all sorts probably because their bored. Without being given enough moral direction too many of these children have grown up to become a burden on society. Their lack of education and morality has pushed them into crime and low paying jobs. What's the answer. It's going to be expensive. Education needs to be made the highest priority of our government. Money spent by our government needs to be scruntinized by all Americans. We need to vote for good people and number one there MUST be a 8 year limit on everyone in any government position. Anything longer than that will only perpetuate the corruption and greed which is rampant throughout government.
It's extemely difficult to teach our children morality when our elected government officals openly behave as thieves and liars. Americans need to take back control of this country by expecting our elected officals to act in our best interests and not their own.
jesse adams Mar 9th 2007 6:47PM
I think that it is crazy and stupid for someone to spend this much money on a stupid meal, just to impress their friends. That sum of money would feed a dozen families. I do not think such garbage ought to be considered readable news. It has no point whatsoever.
BRUNO MASURE Mar 9th 2007 7:25PM
Martha Stewart feeds her crew with food from Balthazar in NYC.
Balthazar delivery crew loves her.
She is well known for her generosity.
some delivery people make over US$ 1,000 a day because of her.
bruno
Kenny Mar 9th 2007 7:40PM
The problem here is that the only concern is MONEY. People need to realize that being wealthy does not give you breath in your lungs. It can all be lost in less than a day. We need to focus on what is important. Whether you live in a mansion or a box, we are all created equal. I could care less who gives what to who, I am not the judge. People (rich and poor) need to stick together and stop judging each other, that's not our job. Be humble and kind to each other. Hatred breeds hatred and envy is not rewarded. Pray for your brothers and sisters, because one day we will all live together in a much better place.
Angela Mar 9th 2007 7:45PM
To begin with, why the hell is anyone worried about what Kanye or any other star does with their money? He earned it he can do with it whatever he wants. I have my own life to worry about, not what someone wealthy does. I actually read the story cause i thought it was about some new meal that was covered in gold (in PA i had heard about some chocolates with gold on it for the King Tut exhibit). Then of course I got sucked in to seeing what people had to say about it.
I also agree that it is NOT up to the mega millionaires or billionaires to take care of the poor. I am that working poor person now. I have used state assitance to help get by, but I work dam hard to get off it too. I am going back to school to get my degree so i can do my job better and eventually will go to a 4 year so I can sit for my CPA. Will someone with a lot of money help? Nope, don't think so. Its up to me make it happen not the public. It is really sad how people have come to depend on state assitance and welfare. It is even sadder to listen to the social service employees teach you how to keep getting the assistance.I personally was once denied Medicaid during a pregnancy and the social worker literally told me not to work for one week that month and come back and reapply to get it. As much as I hate to say it, I did it. I don't like that I did it, but my childs health was much more important. Now I am working at getting my own insurance and will be adding my children as their state insurance comes to an end. I have been off the WIC for well over a year. Its hard not to have it, but i will be damned if I become a welfare mom.
Also Zorgen, while I agree with your theory of downfall I don't think it was JUST women going to work. With the price of gas and just basic necessities it is almost impossible to live off of one income in any family. My husband alone makes 35k and for a family of five, its not enough. We tried living with one income, no way....its impossible with our economy now. people would literally have to get back into the task of growing their own food....and seeing as how i have a black thumb from improper training, i just dont see that happening LOL.
But seriously, the people with money more than likely worked hard to get it, why should a bunch of people who don't have it tell them what to do with it?
Kathy Mar 9th 2007 8:20PM
My original post wasn't to condemn people with money or tell them what to do with it. Nor was it about Kayne or just celebrities. It was concerning those people who possess EXTREME wealth. It was about a form of gluttony. How can you own a thousand pairs of shoes when you know their are children who are shoeless? Or spend this kind of money on food when somewhere there is a child who is dying of starvation?