Caviar is the “no duh” of the luxury food world. But for much of my life I was the Tom Hanks in Big at the fancy party pretending to know what all the fuss was about. But lately, I’ve matured, and more and more have found myself intrigued — tickled, even — by the flavor, texture, and power of tiny fish eggs. Apparently I am not alone; riding the coattails of last year’s penchant for maximalist dining (remember caviar bumps?) and our new appreciation for tinned fish products in general, an increasing number of folks are seeing caviar in a new, more approachable, more everyday way.
If this is also you, I recommend diving your tiny mother of pearl spoon into a few grams of the new caviar line from tinned fish darling Fishwife. The caviar, harvested from California white sturgeon, is from a family-owned, ECO-CERT certified caviar farm and manages to be velvety and briny without being a full on salt assault. I like mine on a Lay’s potato chip, but I also recommend a dollop on some blinis, chicken nuggets (don’t knock till try, etc), mixed into a dip, or just eaten off a spoon.
No peeking! But check out what the Eater Advent Calendar has already revealed. And check back each day for a new clutch condiment, gadget, or nibble that, yes, makes an amazing gift — but these surprises are just for you.