Can You Get Wild Caspian Sea Caviar for New Year's Eve?
Filed under: Dining
Luxist has been following the availability of wild Caspian Sea caviar for years. Caviar aficionados remember the first ban on Beluga caviar that went into effect in September 2005 that made it illegal to import the delicacy to the United States until it was lifted by the United Nations in 2007. Since the removal of the ban, coveted wild Caspian Sea caviar has been available but the prices have been astronomical and both the availability and quality spotty.According to David Rosengarten, a food and wine writer, cook book author and former host of an award wining Food Network television show, it may not be possible to buy anything other than farm raised caviar for New Year's Eve. He reports in Tasting's, his ezine, that Petrossian, winner of the Luxist Reader's Choice Award, will not be selling anything but farm-raised caviar and none of it from the Caspian Sea. He also states that we shouldn't despair as their are so many delicious alternatives to the original Beluga caviar. Among his favorites is Petrossian's Avelrta President caviar which is farmed in northern California from white sturgeon.
A discreet phone call to Petrossian revealed that it is in fact accurate that they have recently sold out of their supply of high grade wild caviar which was retailing for a whopping $20,000 a kilo. Assurances were made that the supply is fluid and that there will be more available. You may have to win the lottery as the price of the wild caviar is in the category of "if you have to ask, you can't afford it". That being said, Petrossian is committed to retaining wild caviar for their VIP customers. For the rest of us, they provide an incredible selection of varieties of farmed caviar.
The silver lining to the shortage of the wild Caspian Sea caviar is that it gives us all a good excuse to break free from the traditional definitions of what is the "best" caviar. Let your taste buds decide which variety and style of farm raised eggs you like the most.
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