This Sandwich Costs $1,500 and Takes 6 Months to Make!

When you think of making a meal from scratch, you might picture yourself picking up some fresh ingredients from the farmers market or skipping the frozen food aisle. However, for Andy George, host of the YouTube show "How to Make Everything," the concept of "from scratch" reaches extraordinary lengths. George embarked on a culinary journey that spanned six months and cost $1,500, all to create a chicken sandwich truly made from scratch.

In his latest endeavor, George documented the painstaking process of crafting a "simple" chicken sandwich, beginning with the basics: growing a garden, making cheese, extracting salt from ocean water, and even raising and butchering a chicken. The ingredients list for this extraordinary sandwich included lettuce, tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, dill, peppers, garlic, sunflowers, eggs, salt, honey, wheat, milk, and, of course, one live chicken.

George shared his journey in a YouTube video titled "How to Make a $1,500 Sandwich in Only 6 Months," which has captivated over 6 million viewers. The video offers a fascinating glimpse into the labor-intensive process behind producing every single component of the sandwich.

To produce the sandwich, George had to:

- Grow vegetables: He planted seeds in a community garden to cultivate lettuce, tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, and dill.

- Extract honey: He visited a local bee farm to harvest honey.

- Make cheese and butter: He milked a cow to produce the dairy products.

- Make bread: He processed wheat to make flour and bake bread.

- Collect salt: Perhaps the most arduous task, George traveled from his hometown of Minneapolis to the Pacific Ocean to collect salt water, which he then processed into salt.

- Raise and butcher a chicken: He raised a chicken and prepared it for the sandwich.

Given the immense effort and resources invested, one might expect the sandwich to be a culinary masterpiece, a story George would recount with pride for years to come. However, the final product did not live up to such lofty expectations. "It's not bad," George concluded. "That's about it. It's not bad. Six months of my life for not bad. Yeah."

Despite the underwhelming taste, the project was far from a failure. George's intent was to highlight the extensive effort and time required to produce everyday items that many of us take for granted. By undertaking such a daunting task, George aimed to bring awareness to the intricate processes behind food production.

In an interview with ABC News, George explained that the inspiration behind the project stemmed from his desire to explore the world in a unique way. "How to Make Everything" began as a documentary project and evolved into a series, allowing him to delve deeply into the origins of everyday products. George hopes that by watching his videos, people will gain a greater appreciation for the labor involved in creating even the simplest of items.

The $1,500 chicken sandwich is a testament to the dedication and curiosity driving George's "How to Make Everything" project. While the taste may not have been revolutionary, the message behind the sandwich is clear: the journey of creating something from scratch is filled with learning, appreciation, and a newfound respect for the everyday conveniences we often overlook.