Caviar Etiquette and Utensils

Fine caviar should be served solo, very cold, and preferably in a non-metallic bowl nested inside a larger bowl filled with ice. Silver and metal bowls and utensils should be avoided due to oxidation, which may impart a metallic taste to the caviar. Choose servers and utensils made of glass, bone, tortoise shell, wood, plastic, or to be truly traditional, mother-of-pearl or gold.

Fine caviar is best served simply, with toast points or bland, unsalted crackers. Although purists will disagree, believing nothing should interfere with the flavor of fine caviar, common accompaniments include lemon wedges, sour cream, creme fraiche, hard-cooked egg (yolks and whites chopped separately), and minced onion. Lesser quality caviar products may well benefit from these garnishes.

Purists will also disagree with the commonly preferred libation of champagne, and demand only a straight shot of the finest frozen vodka.

Don't be a piggy guest when served caviar as an hors d'oeuvre, no matter how much you might be tempted by its luscious flavor. It's considered gauche to eat more than an ample serving of about two ounces, or about two spoonfuls.

The finest caviar should taste neither fishy nor overly salty. Connoisseurs look for shiny, fine-grained egg globules.

More about Caviar:

• What is caviar? FAQ
• Caviar History
• How to identify real caviar
• Caviar Varieties and Terms
• Caviar Selection and Storage
• Caviar Etiquette and Utensils
• Finding Affordable Caviar
• Caviar Cooking Tips
• Caviar and Health
• Caviar Recipes
 
Cookbooks

•	Caviar: The Definitive Guide
•	The World of Caviar
•	Champagne and Caviar
•	The New York Times Seafood Cookbook
•	More Cookbooks