Thin strips of dried meat might not be the first holiday gift that comes to mind, but one Venice food maker has found a way to class up a traditional snack.

Three Jerks, a beef jerky manufacturer co-founded by Jordan Barrocas and Daniel Fogelson in 2013, is offering a limited-edition gift set of gold-covered filet mignon jerky packaged in a high-security lock box.

But customers with rumbling stomachs need not worry. The $500 item, which weighs 2 ounces, can also be eaten if they choose. Gold is chemically inert and passes through the digestive tract.

The idea came to the Three Jerks co-founders as they thought about making something more outlandish than their Memphis BBQ, I Can’t Believe It’s Not Hamburger and Maple Bourbon Churro beef jerky offerings.

“We really did it for fun,” Barrocas said. “We thought, What’s more over the top than filet mignon beef jerky? We looked at each other and said, ‘Let’s just make it out of gold.’”

The product, which is available through Three Jerks’ website until Dec. 20, has done so well that the company plans to make roughly five times as much next year. The duo declined to disclose how many sets have been sold.

Barrocas also remained tight-lipped about their secret recipe.

“There’s some food where gold powder is sprinkled on top,” he said. “That’s not this. The jerky is actually totally encrusted in gold.”

– Natalie Schachar