O.K., People; lets see who's alert; what items are priced at over $40.00 dollars per pound, common in most stores, for human to eat. I know of two and will try to think of others while your beating your heads aganist the wall!! Yes, thats $40.00; forty...

-- mitch hearn (moopups@citlink.net), October 16, 2001

Answers

I just bought 2 vanilla beans for $7.85. They weigh roughly 1/2 ounce....that would be $15.70 an ounce or $251.20 for a pound.

-- Lacey (cddllt@webtv.net), October 16, 2001.

The one that jumps to mind, although I'm not sure that it's available in all stores (it is in ours) is saffron -- I'm not sure of the exact price, but a pound would probably cost more than my car. I just paid $2.50 for about five strands. Probably about 10,000 strands in a pound -- so lets say, for arguments sake, at $.50 per, we're talking $5,000.

Ouch.

-- Tracy (trimmer31@hotmail.com), October 16, 2001.

Uuuuuuuuummmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...(smell of wood burning...)Well, I know that really good brie is about $30 a kilo...I think thats the priciest food I know of besides saffron. Did you know you can grow your own saffron crocuses?

-- Alison in N.S. (aproteau@istar.ca), October 16, 2001.

Yes, saffron is one of the ones I had in mind, and have never bought vanilla beans. The second item is not a spice that I have in mind, but does change the flavor, and you either love or hate it.

-- mitch hearn (moopups@citlink.net), October 16, 2001.

Is it black pepper?

-- Carol in Tx (cwaldrop@peoplescom.net), October 16, 2001.

No, it is not a spice its a food, usually imported, and everybody tries it at least once a lifetime, others eat it daily.

-- mitch hearn (moopups@citlink.net), October 16, 2001.

Caviar??

-- diane (gardiacaprines@yahoo.com), October 16, 2001.

Good guess also but remember:"common in most stores", your in the neighbor hood...

-- mitch hearn (moopups@citlink.net), October 16, 2001.

This is driving me nuts!!!!

-- Tracy (trimmer31@hotmail.com), October 16, 2001.

Smoked salmon???

-- Tracy Rimmer (trimmer31@hotmail.com), October 16, 2001.

O.K. People, since no one has nailed this yet, and to be fair to those people in the western time zones I will post this correct answer tomorrow morning EST. nite cuties...

-- mitch hearn (moopups@citlink.net), October 16, 2001.

You're going to be responsible for a sleepless night here in Alberta, Mitch!

-- Tracy (trimmer31@hotmail.com), October 16, 2001.

Mitch I am checking in kind of late, and I had thought of the vanilla bean, and the saffron, but the only other thing I can think of is: some kind of mushroom? Don't know what kind or how much they are but I know some can be very pricey. I'm so tired but I did want to put my vote in! Can't wait to find out the answer.

-- Melissa (me@home.net), October 16, 2001.

Glassed fish eggs called cavier, but I call bait. Stuffed goose livers. Canned yak butter. Chocolate covered ants or grasshoppers. Canned kangaroo tail. Moose milk cheese. Fresh baked bear paws(grizzly). Roasted beaver tail. Fresh reindeer steaks.........

I need to go get a snack before I can think of any more.

-- Laura (LadybugWrangler@hotmail.com), October 17, 2001.

ARGH! The suspense!!!!!!!! Common in most stores, 40 bucks a pound, a food not a spice or herb, almost everyone has tried it at least once, it changes flavor of the dish its in............... My brain hurts...maybe we don't have this mystery food in Nova Scotia?

-- Alison in N.S. (aproteau@istar.ca), October 17, 2001.

I'm beginning to think it must be an American thing, too, Allison.

Mitch!!! Is it artificial sweetener?????

-- Tracy (trimmer31@hotmail.com), October 17, 2001.

O.K. You have been tortured enough; the vanilla beans and caviar were ones I had not thought of and the saffron was guessed; so the second item I had in mind when I asked the question was (your going to feel silly) stinky salty (love them or hate them): anchovies @ $48.00 per pound.

-- mitch hearn (moopups@citlink.net), October 17, 2001.

Mitch,

I almost said anchovies (because you stated most people would at least try them once in their lives) but never dreamed they were that expensive!! Almost doesn't count, right?

-- Terry - NW Ohio (aunt_tm@hotmail.com), October 17, 2001.

I had anchovies on my mind but the only word that would come for it was lutefisk and, well, that's different.

-- Laura (LadybugWrangler@hotmail.com), October 17, 2001.

Oh maaaaaan! I never even thought of that! I love anchovies!

-- Alison in N.S. (aproteau@istar.ca), October 17, 2001.