A meal of Titanic proportions (and expense)

Imagine dining in Edwardian opulence. White gloved waiters clad in starched white coats gliding quietly around your table bearing artfully arranged food on silver trays. China is rare turn of the century porcelain and fragile crystal sparkles with Armagnac costing $400 an ounce.

The menu, a ten course extravaganza, includes a foie gras terrine, rare out of season truffles and a host of classic French and Russian creations tweaked to suit the modern palate. All of this can be had for a mere $12,000. Per Person.

Cullen's Restaurant in Houston is offering this meal through September as a recreation of what it might have been like to dine as a first class passenger on the Titanic.

The Titanic sank 100 years ago. And when it did 1500 people went to their deaths in the icy waters of the North Atlantic. Commemorating that with such blatant excess borders on the obscene. Did these people not think to partner with a charity, an organization that might benefit from some much needed largesse? Could they not have used this opportunity to seek out a good cause or someone in need and share some of the bounty? Is tossing away $12,000 on one meal really something to be proud of in this day and age?

I am, to quote my Facebook pals, SMDH.