N.Korea's Late Kim Jong-il spent $700,000 a year on cognac

A riveting interview with the personal chef of North Korea’s late leader Kim Jong-il reveals fascinating details about his extravagant taste for French cognac, Iranian caviar, and McDonald’s Big Macs. Penned by American Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Adam Johnson for GQ magazine, the lengthy piece has drawn attention around the world for offering a rare glimpse into the stubbornly reclusive man’s eccentric and outrageous lifestyle.

According to Japanese sushi chef Kenji Fujimoto — a pseudonym for the man who’s now living as an escapee in Japan — Kim was a man of extravagant taste. During his 11 years as his personal chef, Fujimoto says he was sent to France to supply the ‘Dear Leader’s’ $700,000 cognac habit; to Iran for caviar; Tokyo for fish; Denmark for beer and ham; and, for the occasions when his boss was feeling less high-brow, to Beijing for Big Macs — to go.
Kim demanded nothing less than the best. That means a staff of 200 was hired to make sure every grain of rice was perfectly shaped — no cracks, no chips. He was a veritable gourmand, who could talk for hours about foie gras, truffles and Kobe beef. His favorite cooking show was “Iron Chef.”