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Caviar was a free bar snack

delanceyplace.com

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Re: Caviar was a free bar snack

#2
"It takes twenty years for a female beluga to mature, and at that point she can weigh as much as 1,800 pounds [...]. Such a fish could yield twenty pounds of eggs [when killed]."

That's got to be one of the least sustainable things I've ever heard of. I tried caviar once. It didn't taste like much, and I didn't see the point.

Re: Caviar was a free bar snack

#3
post #2

"It takes twenty years for a female beluga to mature, and at that point she can weigh as much as 1,800 pounds [...]. Such a fish could yield twenty pounds of eggs [when killed]." That's got to be one of the least sustainable things I've ever heard of. I tried caviar once. It didn't taste like much, and I didn't see the point.

I haven't tried the super expensive stuff, but it tasted like seawater to me. Didn't really see the point of it.

At least with other expensive foods like saffron or truffles they are very potent and have pretty unique flavors.

Instead of caviar I'll just add salt next time.

Re: Caviar was a free bar snack

#4
post #2

"It takes twenty years for a female beluga to mature, and at that point she can weigh as much as 1,800 pounds [...]. Such a fish could yield twenty pounds of eggs [when killed]." That's got to be one of the least sustainable things I've ever heard of. I tried caviar once. It didn't taste like much, and I didn't see the point.

It’s the same thing as the rhino horn stuff in China, it’s all a silly status symbol.

Re: Caviar was a free bar snack

#6
post #2

"It takes twenty years for a female beluga to mature, and at that point she can weigh as much as 1,800 pounds [...]. Such a fish could yield twenty pounds of eggs [when killed]." That's got to be one of the least sustainable things I've ever heard of. I tried caviar once. It didn't taste like much, and I didn't see the point.

There are ways to surgically remove fish eggs from sturgeon, so it’s possible for this to renewable, but most caviar fishers harvest from dead fish —however it’s not a necessity, it’s just “easier”.

Re: Caviar was a free bar snack

#7
post #2

"It takes twenty years for a female beluga to mature, and at that point she can weigh as much as 1,800 pounds [...]. Such a fish could yield twenty pounds of eggs [when killed]." That's got to be one of the least sustainable things I've ever heard of. I tried caviar once. It didn't taste like much, and I didn't see the point.

It is as sustainable as fishing any other species of fish. Whether caught for meat or eggs the result is the same. What matters is the quantity fished.

Many luxury foods became so because of culture/fashion trends, btw. For example, lobster used to be used to fertilise fields and to feed prisoners and servants in the American North-East.

Re: Caviar was a free bar snack

#8
post #3
post #2

"It takes twenty years for a female beluga to mature, and at that point she can weigh as much as 1,800 pounds [...]. Such a fish could yield twenty pounds of eggs [when killed]." That's got to be one of the least sustainable things I've ever heard of. I tried caviar once. It didn't taste like much, and I didn't see the point.

I haven't tried the super expensive stuff, but it tasted like seawater to me. Didn't really see the point of it. At least with other expensive foods like saffron or truffles they are very potent and have pretty unique flavors. Instead of caviar I'll just add salt next time.

Got bumped from cattle class to royal class (sic) on a flight when I was a kid. Got to taste real caviar. Black, salty, fishy and rather fatty. Bit gross really.

Also got asked for a drink (alcoholic, I guess I was old enough). Cattle class you got the drink. Royal class you got a saucer with a coaster with a doily with a smaller coaster on that finally with the drink parked atop, and a tiny fork next to it to pull out the olive in the drink, which it didn't actually have because it was baileys. Hmm.

Re: Caviar was a free bar snack

#9
post #2

"It takes twenty years for a female beluga to mature, and at that point she can weigh as much as 1,800 pounds [...]. Such a fish could yield twenty pounds of eggs [when killed]." That's got to be one of the least sustainable things I've ever heard of. I tried caviar once. It didn't taste like much, and I didn't see the point.

I dunno, it tastes pretty good to me. But if one is used to spicy food and strong flavours, most of seafood doesn't taste much.

Re: Caviar was a free bar snack

#10
I enjoy beluga caviar - very expensive for what it is though. A much cheaper alternatve is (homemade) black olive tapenade - almost as good for similar usages, and far more sustainable. But I suspect the consumption of caviar is more about signalling than actual taste anyway.
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