How to Prepare a Caviar Serving Station

Caviar is one of those luxury culinary delights.?There’s no better time to indulge than through the holiday season and especially on New Year’s Eve.?Although it might sound intimidating, preparing a caviar serving station is fairly simple with some key details.?

I prefer to set up a station with a few traditional caviar pairings, allowing guests to serve themselves.?I include this in most of our larger holiday menus, including Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve, Thanksgiving and Easter.?Sometime a caviar station sneaks in for a birthday celebration or special gathering, depending on the guest list and ambiance of the event.

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Table of Contents

Handling Caviar Correctly

I do not want to go as far as saying that caviar needs to be handled delicately, but there are some key instructions to follow.?You want to store and manage the caviar properly for optimal taste.?Caviar should remain chilled.?It is best to chill caviar in the refrigerator, and it should never be put in the freezer.?

The best way to serve caviar is in a non-metallic bowl placed inside an ice-filled container.?It’s preferable to avoid using metal bowls, spoons, and utensils, which may impart a metallic taste to the caviar.?A mother of pearl spoon is the best utensil to use to serve caviar.?It does not impart any flavor onto the caviar, therefore not altering the luxurious taste.?

Traditional Caviar Pairings

As the main vessel, I serve caviar with toast points, which are super easy to make.?Blinis, mini pancakes, are a popular and traditional way to serve caviar or you could use plain crackers as well.?If using crackers, make sure they don’t have any seasonings and are not overly salty.?The blinis can be home cooked or you can get some here or here, depending on how many you need.

In a caviar station you can include many complimentary garnishments.?My go to pairings are creme fraiche, hard boiled eggs and red onion.?The egg and red onion are both chopped finely.?I also include lemon wedges for a squeeze of freshness on top.?

Other complimentary accompaniments include sour cream, chives, and capers.?Caviar purists will claim that the best way to eat caviar is alone.?That is true if you are eating the best quality caviar, which can get expensive.?Instead I use a more basic caviar with some traditional pairings which compliment and bring out the fabulous flavor.

As far as beverage pairings, the traditional choices are champagne and/or vodka.?I prefer champagne personally, but as I always say, do whatever you like even if it’s beyond these choices.??

Setting up the Caviar Station

I usually corral all my caviar station items on a tray so it’s clear for our guests that these foods all go together.?I use a divided dish for the creme fraiche, egg and onion, including serving utensils for each of them.

The toast points are in their own basket or container since this is where you start building your caviar canapé.?The lemon also is included on the side as a last touch for your caviar tower.?The caviar of course is in it’s own glass dish, which has two sections so you can include the ice underneath to keep it chilled.

Tips & Tricks for a Caviar Station

Prepping as many of the items ahead of time, eases the stress of setting the caviar station.?For example I prepare the toast points early in the morning and store in a ziplock bag.?Simply toast sliced white bread.?Then cut off crusts and slice in four sections diagonally.

Also hard boil the eggs either the night before or the morning of the event.?Then chop the egg finely and store in the refrigerator until ready to use.?Also dice the onion ahead of time and store in the refrigerator until ready to use.

As a total side note, if you are a regular reader you know I love to thrift shop.?Well, my caviar dish is a thrift store find.?I was so happy when I found it since before that I would always MacGyver a serving piece.?I would use two mismatched bowls nested together, which is totally acceptable by the way.?The next thrifted goodies series post is on January 11th if you’re interested.