Just in time for the Holidays, the Calvisius Caviar Lounge at the Four Seasons Hotel is premiering their new 10 gram tins of four excellent caviar varieties: white sturgeon, de Venise, Oscietra Classic, and Oscietra Royal. Harvested from Calvisius’ state-of-the-art eco-friendly sturgeon farm in Lombardy, Italy, Calvisius has launched this line of conveniently-sized tins as a way for newbies and foodies alike to enjoy a wonderful cross-section of the Calvisius brand.
Elegantly packaged in compact, color-coded tins, each variety is distinctly different – and for those wary of caviar, I promise not one of them is subject to the overly salty or fishy flavors that have dominated the popular thought – while all pairing excellently with toast and champagne. In the black tin is the white sturgeon variety, harvested from Pacific sturgeons native to Northern California up through southern Canada. As the mildest of the four, this is definitely an ideal “starter” variety for the uninitiated.
The second and third varieties are both harvested from the Oscietra sturgeon, the highest-prized variety of caviar aside from beluga, which has been banned from sale in the United States since 2009 due to over-harvesting making the beluga an endangered species. The Oscietra Classic, in its green tin, features a delicious flavor that evokes the seaside without being overpowering; the Oscietra Royal, packaged in an elegant gold tin, is the most select Oscietra roe, featuring the largest pearls and a punchy nutty flavor. It is just as delicious on its own as it is on a toast point.
Packaged in a red tin, the de Venise variety is definitely the most intriguing and intensely flavored of the lot. This was my personal favorite, as a fan of bold and powerful flavors – this is the caviar equivalent of French roasted coffee, a blend of Italian and Russian sturgeon roe.
Calvisius does offer a mail-order service (recommending consumption within 60 days of delivery), but their cozy wood-paneled lounge at the Four Seasons is well worth the trip, offering a delicious assortment of appetizers and two different tasting menus along with a stock of caviar tins in portions of 10 grams, 28 grams (1 ounce), 50 grams (1.75 ounce), 125 grams (4.75 ounces), and 250 grams (8.75 ounces).
The Four Seasons Hotel is located at 58 East 58th Street, tel. 212.207.8222, fax 212.207.8333; call for information on delivering and shipping, or visit www.calvisiuscaviar.com for more info.
Photos courtesy of Calvisius Caviar Lounge
