You are invited to a unique and chic tasting event. As you arrive, you may hear people describing the product as “rich, complex, and nutty.” At this tasting, experts educate and guide you through the choices, explaining the subtleties between samples.
By now, you are probably picturing a wine swooshing event — from Cabernet to Pinot Noir. Although your guess is a good one, wine is not what’s being tasted here. So, what are we sampling? Caviar - and specifically premium quality made from sturgeon farmed and processed in South Jersey — yes, South Jersey. So, put a shmear onto a crostini cracker and let’s get “carried away” by local caviar.
New Jersey Sturgeon Strong
Believe it or not, New Jersey has a rich caviar history. From the late 1800s through the early 1900s, Bayside in Cumberland County was considered one of the caviar capitals of the world. In fact, the area was once called Caviar, New Jersey. Premium eggs, from Delaware River sturgeon, were shipped to New York and exported to various parts of Europe, repackaged, and shipped back to the United States labeled as “Russian Caviar.”
Today, the King Caviar Farm continues the South Jersey tradition. What started as a hobby 10 years ago by Dr. Septimiu Pastiu blossomed into a multi-generational business offering one of the “freshest and best tasting caviar in the United States.” Currently, King Caviar Farm boasts nine basins and a large pond supporting more than 30,000 pedigreed European sturgeon. All sustainably raised and preservative-free.
Carrying Caviar
If you cannot come to caviar, caviar can come to you! No, it’s not DoorDash or Uber Eats, but caviar can come to your home or venue — complete with style and panache. That idea is the brainchild of Kristen McGee, founder of Caviar Carriers. The concept actually popped into her head one day as she was showering. She loved the idea of finding a classy way to serve caviar at a party. Within a week, her website was up and running, and Caviar Carriers was hatched (pun intended) as New Jersey’s premier mobile caviar service using only King Caviar products.
McGee, a longtime caviar fan, believes in the product she chooses to serve: “While traveling, I experienced a variety of caviars, but they were so salty! Luckily, I have teamed up with King Caviar Farms, which provides us with caviar that contains only 2.8% salt. It is raised and harvested locally without the heavy preservatives imported caviar needs. It has now become my favorite caviar to enjoy.”
Regardless of your event size or location, Caviar Carriers tailors to your needs. For example, the Set Package offers a fixed quantity of caviar, perfectly portioned for your guest count — ideal for cocktail hours, wedding receptions, and milestone celebrations.
In addition to serving quality King Farm products like the rich and full-bodied Royal Siberian or the delicate and refined Sevruga, Caviar Carrier brings you “luxury in motion.” Highly trained caviar experts provide a full-service experience to your guests. They circulate through your event toting custom harnesses complete with a silver-domed caviar service on ice, crème fraîche, mother-of-pearl spoons, and freshly prepared blinis. The servers gracefully interact with guests while answering questions about caviar — history, tastes, products, and nuances.
McGee, who truly believes in the product she serves and how it is served, enjoys “spreading” caviar to her clients. She gets pleasure in seeing others get a feel (and taste) for caviar. One of her favorite caviar moments happened at a wedding she was catering. The nervous bride-to-be requested one of the Caviar Carriers come to her bridal suite. McGee recalls, “As we were serving her, I noticed she was a bit ravenous. I then handed her the entire tin of caviar and the pearl spoon. Standing there in her white wedding dress, she ate the entire tin! She then proceeded to lick the tin clean! This was the moment I knew our caviar is the best caviar on the market.”
Know Your Caviar
If you are already a caviar maven, visiting the locally farmed, ecologically processed, and packaged product is a plus. King Caviar Farms offers tours of the Swedesboro farm with Kristen McGee as your caviar host. At the farm, visitors see the sturgeon up close to get an understanding of the process. In addition, caviar can be purchased on site. There is nothing quite like meeting the source of what you’re about to taste — a unique New Jersey farm-to-table experience.
Although some may feel caviar is not to their culinary taste, McGee feels passionately that everyone should and can experience what was once considered an upper-crust delicacy. With a wink, she jokes about those who are too culinary shy to try her beloved caviar, “Well, that leaves more for me!”
For more information or to order: https://caviarcarriernj.com
