Caviar is a prized delicacy made from sturgeon roe, traditionally served with a non-metallic spoon to prevent off-flavors. Mother of pearl is a popular material for caviar spoons, but horn or bone are also suitable.
Caviar is the roe of some sturgeon species that live mainly in the Caspian Sea between Russia and Iran. These delicate roes are thoroughly cleaned and then lightly salted before canning. Caviar is considered one of the world’s most prized delicacies, and there is a certain amount of ritual associated with the serving. One such tradition involves the use of a special caviar spoon, designed to prevent the caviar “berries” from acquiring an unpleasant metallic taste.
A caviar spoon is usually carved from a non-metallic material such as glass, bone, natural horn, or mother of pearl. There is a popular misconception that caviar cannot be served with a metal spoon, however. The caviar itself is packaged and shipped in metal cans without acquiring any metallic taste. Some food experts suggest that sterling silver will transfer an off-flavor to the caviar, but an inert metal like gold won’t. There are such things as golden or gilded spoons of caviar. A plastic spoon can also serve as a caviar spoon in an emergency.
Perhaps the most common material used to make a real caviar spoon is mother of pearl. The pearl material is chemically inert, meaning it cannot transfer any off-flavors to the delicate caviar berries. Mother of pearl also has an elegant opalescent shimmer that looks good on a formal table setting. If you’re planning on serving caviar, investing in a set of nacreed caviar spoons may be a good idea.
A caviar spoon made of horn or natural bone is also suitable for serving caviar in a formal setting. The material used is not as important as the non-reactive nature of the spoon. A caviar spoon is designed to hold a small amount of caviar as the guest prepares a toast point or cracker to receive it. A common caviar buffet can be used as a buffet, or guests can be offered individual spoonfuls of caviar at a hosted dinner party.
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