Food fit for a king: the yellow metal shows up in menu choices around the world

For years investors and collectors have had the opportunity to purchase gold bullion and coins to diversify their portfolios. But what about diversifying your plate? People now have the option of eating the precious metal in very unique ways. You might be surprised at the number of dishes and beverages which contain real gold. While you cannot technically taste the yellow metal, the price of gold dictates that these ultra-luxurious treats are definitely going to require you to have not just the exquisite tastes of those who dine on them, but also the means to cover the costs. It should be noted that the expensive golden ingredient is in no way digested by the body itself and cannot enter the bloodstream. Recently, more and more of these dishes have made their way into the news; we will now take a look at some of them so you can see what is out there if you ever decide to convert your portfolio into a personal buffet.

A restaurant in Germany serves real gold leaf along with white Italian Alba truffles in a schnitzel it offers, a desert that when it first came out cost a little over $240 per plate. Of course, the price of gold will determine the price of the Golden Kaiser Schnitzel taking into account inflation and other variables.

The Golden Kaiser Schnitzel is definitely not a historical breakthrough, around the world food and drink containing miniscule amounts of gold has been made for centuries. Historians note that since the 1500's, liquors with gold flakes have been produced in Europe. Over time, these were seen as a way to display wealth although not all of those who could afford to sample such beverages would have had the means to purchase gold bullion itself. In extremely tiny amounts, gold is not beyond the reach of a person with an average or slightly above average income.

Poland and the Netherlands have both given the world Goldstrike and Danziger Goldwasser, two examples of gold infused liquors. Goldschlager is another example that is frequently consumed in the United States as a novelty drink among certain segments of the population. In Japan and other Asian countries, gold is sometimes put into candies, jellies and even tea or coffee - although this again is more popular when the price of gold makes it more affordable for culinary purposes.

More recent examples of foods containing gold include an incredible pizza which included not just 24 karat gold flakes of gold, but also vintage balsamic vinegar, champagne soaked caviar and cognac marinated lobster - which sold for over $4,000. In this case, the pizza's profits were given to charity. There was also a special chocolate desert sold in New York City that included a type of chocolate that costs $157 an ounce, white diamonds and 18 karat gold. This desert goes for $25,000 and is even more expensive than a cake with similar ingredients created in Japan which bears a $20,000 price tag.

Celebrities have long been known to appreciate gold in food. Wolfgang Puck once created a Celery Apple soup which included gold as a garnish for the Academy Awards. In 2013, more than thirteen hundred guests at the Golden Globes dined on pudding decorated with gold dust.

From desserts to beverages to candy, soup, chicken, pizza and even sushi - gold clearly remains a popular decorative element for those with expensive tastes. For the rest of us, choosing gold for investing might be smarter than ingesting it.