What do you think of first when the Carl’s Jr. chain first comes to mind? Perhaps it’s their top-notch breakfast burger, seen by many as the hands-down best fast food breakfast sandwich around. Or maybe it’s their underrated French fries that hold their own against many of the best fast food chain fries out there. But do you think of a four-digit combo meal at a marquee casino resort in Las Vegas?
We won’t blame you for thinking that that association is pretty farfetched, but for a little while, that was exactly the case. Back in 2006, Carl’s Jr. partnered up with Vegas-based Palms Casino Resort and unveiled a $6,000 (yes, that’s the correct number of zeros) combo meal to be served exclusively as a part of the resort’s room service offerings. An indulgent numerical toying with the more revered $6 Carl’s Jr. burger, this menu item certainly turned heads when it was officially announced, with some criticizing the Maloof family (the then-owners of the Palms) for their superfluous flaunting of wealth. Meanwhile, others chose to follow Carl’s Jr. to a Los Angeles-based event featuring their signature burgers paired with wine, all for under $40. Even in spite of its obvious gimmickry, some residents at the Palms did indeed purchase this lucrative combo meal, which came complete with fries and a 1959 Bordeaux wine -– a combo only possible in a place like Vegas.
Fast food burgers and wine – a winning combo?
Carl’s Jr. has made efforts at broadening their scope over the years, as evidenced by their often-forgotten attempt at Mexican fast food. But an unprecedented and unexpected pairing of its fast food fare with some ridiculously expensive wine has got to rank near the top for uniqueness. And to make matters even more fun, Carl’s Jr. didn’t simply let this publicity stunt pass them by. Inspired by the Palms’ combo of a Carl’s Jr. half-pound burger with all the fixings, fries, and a Chateau Lafite Rothschild Bordeaux (which certainly ate up nearly the entire cost of the meal), the fast food chain decided to take this burger-wine pairing and run with it.
In celebration of the Palms’ $6,000 meal, Carl’s Jr. released a sort of pairing menu of its own, recommending wine pairings for seven of its menu items. The original six-dollar burger was partnered up with a cabernet sauvignon, and the jalapeño six dollar burger got the Moet and Chandon Champagne treatment. It seems then that Carl’s Jr. had fun with this short-lived promotion. And better yet, you can still find the recommended pairings online should you feel the urge to try this unorthodox partnership yourself. And don’t worry, you won’t have to pay $6,000.
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