Paddlefish Caviar

paddlefishAny caviar lover knows about sevruga and beluga.  But have you heard of paddlefish roe? With the more exotic caviar varieties becoming increasingly hard to find, caviar dealers are getting creative and going domestic. One solution is the paddlefish, a North American cousin of the sturgeon.  Seattle Caviar sells a Yellowstone River Paddlefish caviar which has the grayish appearance of sevruga but a milder flavor.  Shuckman's Fish Company and Smokery in Louisville, Kentucky also makes a caviar from the paddlefish (known as the spoonfish in Kentucky).  The humble American paddlefish can never replace joys of true beluga but its lower price point and easy availability makes it a viable alternative.

[via Cigar Afficionado]